My keys were stolen - but my bike is locked up.
 

I was carjacked this morning. Car is gone. Keys are gone.
My bike is locked up to a sign downtown. What should I do? Would police cut the lock off for me? Or should I cut it myself? I think the spare key disappeared long ago but I'm looking for it just in case it is still around somewhere.

Any advice is welcome.

Cut it off yourself.
Depending on where you are and the circumstances, might be prudent to have any available proof of purchase/ownership with you.
Ultimately, though, you can't be arrested for 'stealing' your own bike.
Good luck on the car.

Here the police won't unlock a car with the keys locked in it. I don't think they will cut the lock on a bike either. Cut it off yourself. As JanMM says have proof of ownership if available.

If you reported your car as being Carjacked, why not ask the police, that took the report, how to proceed. Perhaps they can just accompany you while you cut your lock.

Just cut it off.

Cordless grinder. less than 10 minute job (or so I'm told).

Go inside the establishment nearest where the bike is locked up and inform them that you will be cutting your bike lock off your bike, at least that way you wont have anyone hounding you or calling cops. And yeah, bring some proof of ownership

Yes a cordless Dremel tool with a cutting wheel will work just fine. You might have something along with you when you cut the lock, so you can prove the bike is yours Someone may think you are stealing it and call the police.

You should have a friend record you with a video camera while you cut the lock. That way, people will think that this is a normal occurrence.

call police non-emergency line and inform them you will be cutting it off.

If you really want to cut the lock off a bicycle in public without drawing any attention to yourself from people passing by.... just appear to be stealing it. People will look away to avoid being drawn into a distraction from their own activities.

Unfortunately, you are right about this.

Do me a favor.

If you decide to cut the lock off yourself, post back afterward and relate your experience to the rest of us. We get a lot of threads asking about the best locking system and I'm wondering how much difference it makes. If an amateur can cut off a lock and steal his own bike back without difficulty, how risk free must it be for a real thief who steals lot of bikes.

You were carjacked? Someone stopped you while you were in your car and stole it? Wow, that's scary. I'm glad you're okay. But, here's the good thing: the cops know your car was stolen so explain to them about the bike (call non-emergency) and they'll let you get it. They might even cut the lock for you if you can prove ownership (with a photo or a ID number).

It's been a long time since I've called a lock smith, but rather than cutting your lock, it may be cheaper to call one instead.

What kind of sign is it? If its something like a stop sign. You can always unscrew the bolts that attach large post to the anchor post and just slip your bike off with the lock still attached to it and try and cut it off later.

If you have the bike registered you have proof its yours if the cops show up. If you don't have it registered the cops have no proof its not your bike. I guess you can always register it a day before and then do the operation the next day so you feel like your standing on solid ground. I would just do whatever it takes to get it off right there and if you see anyone looking at you just tell them that its your bike and you lost the key even though they didn't ask you anything. I think people would accept anything you say so that don't have to bother with what you are doing.

If its a chain you can get a bolt cutter, U lock your going to need a portable saw, If its a crappy key lock you might be able to use a bump key