new rooftop rack + disaster
#1
John Wayne Toilet Paper
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new rooftop rack + disaster
So I was in the middle of installing a roofrack on my Mazda. Historically, I've always just carried my bike in the hatch but my wife started riding too so we figured it was time for a rack. Well, I went into the garage to get an allen wrench and some anti-sieze for the bolts and... what the hell? Where is my bike? mother****er, where is my wife's commuter bike?
They left my mountain bike and her road bike. yes, garage was locked. Didn't think I needed to lock my bikes INSIDE a locked garage.
So, minus one Novara Express commuter bike and one TCR Carbon/DuraAce road bike.
Here's hoping USAA takes care of me. I did finish installing my rack, but now I don't have a bike to put on it. I guess the wife can go somewhere and ride.
They left my mountain bike and her road bike. yes, garage was locked. Didn't think I needed to lock my bikes INSIDE a locked garage.
So, minus one Novara Express commuter bike and one TCR Carbon/DuraAce road bike.
Here's hoping USAA takes care of me. I did finish installing my rack, but now I don't have a bike to put on it. I guess the wife can go somewhere and ride.
#2
Senior Member
They broke into your garage?
Nevermind. I thought the bikes were already on the rack.
Boo. I'm sorry about your bikes
Nevermind. I thought the bikes were already on the rack.
Boo. I'm sorry about your bikes
#5
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I have no idea. I was in VA for two weeks and just got home last night. All I know is they are gone and the wife and I are a little freaked out by it. I am now going to be locking my bikes in the garage...which is kind of silly, but wow.
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I would be very cautious if I were you. This just so happens to have occurred while you were out of town for two weeks? Hm.... sounds a little fishy to me. Maybe someone you know passed on the information to some hoodlums, who knows. I'd just be careful about telling people when you're leaving your house empty for an extended period of time.
#7
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I would be very cautious if I were you. This just so happens to have occurred while you were out of town for two weeks? Hm.... sounds a little fishy to me. Maybe someone you know passed on the information to some hoodlums, who knows. I'd just be careful about telling people when you're leaving your house empty for an extended period of time.
#8
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Yeah I specifically don't make it known when I'm leaving (like on facebook/etc). The only thing I can imagine happening (since there is no sign of forced entry) is that one of the various contractors that service some telecom equipment on the roof of the building (and thus have garage access) is responsible for either the theft or leaving the door open. There's really nobody to blame except myself though, since I knew various companies have access to the garage, I should have had them locked.
#9
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no, it's closed... Only the 7 residents and Comcast and AT&T have access. I'm thinking one of those contractors was doing work on a warm day and left the damn door up.
#10
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I assumed you had a single family home/garage situation.
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I always lock my bike even in my garage. At least this makes it more difficult, although not fail safe, for thieves.
#14
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Yeah the wife's Six Carbon had a crappy cable lock on it and they left that.
#15
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its a terrible thing when you cant feel that you and your belongings are not safe at your home. good luck getting this sorted out, very unfortunate.
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Keep a close eye on eBay, Craigslist, etc. - there's a good chance that's how they may try to fence them. Check out this story regarding a theft from my LBS about 2 years ago -
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...lleged_bi.html
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...lleged_bi.html
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I'd venture that it's most likely one of your neighbors. Any of your neighbors have kids go off to college recently? Especially ones that would go without their parents?
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#20
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the thread title did not accurately represent this thread.
Also, 7 units people sharing an open garage that multiple contractors also have keys to sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. My bikes would for sure be in my house, and my tools too.
Also, 7 units people sharing an open garage that multiple contractors also have keys to sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. My bikes would for sure be in my house, and my tools too.
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Keep in your bikes indoors. They have a very small footprint.
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The worst thing that they take from you isn't the bikes, it's your peace of mind. The bikes can be replaced but your peace of mind is gone forever.
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I actually thought about using a bike lock in my garage, but instead I just keep my bike in the house.
#24
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If 7 other residents and multiple employees of two vendors have access to where your bikes and cars are, your garage probably wouldn't qualify with most insurance companies as a locked garage for premium & claims purposes. As an aside, we surprisingly had some problems with USAA's claims service after a break-in at our home. USAA was amazingly out of line. After many, many years we are no longer with USAA and now also have a high level alarm system and much lower premiums to boot.
Frankly, I can't imagine leaving anything of value in that garage of yours, padlocked & chained or not. Most multiple use garages are the easiest buildings in the world to gain illegal access to, especially at night. No tools required either. You might want to reconsider your security issues.
We now have a private alarmed garage and the cars are always kept locked, the Harley is security case hardened chained and padlocked to an in-concrete ring but the bikes are admittedly free for the taking if they can get past the alarm system.
Frankly, I can't imagine leaving anything of value in that garage of yours, padlocked & chained or not. Most multiple use garages are the easiest buildings in the world to gain illegal access to, especially at night. No tools required either. You might want to reconsider your security issues.
We now have a private alarmed garage and the cars are always kept locked, the Harley is security case hardened chained and padlocked to an in-concrete ring but the bikes are admittedly free for the taking if they can get past the alarm system.
Last edited by SwingBlade; 08-29-10 at 06:58 PM.
#25
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That's not a private garage. Open season in that one. Our bikes live inside the house. It's much safer, especially with a couple of dogs (one of whom outweighs me by 40 pounds or more, and with a bark to match his size).
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