Originally Posted by
Hypno Toad
https://road.cc/content/news/136239-...ve-bikes-wales
This is from 2014, and I think most people that would be a target for this kinda thief have figured out how to be smarter protecting their stuff. I've only heard of thieves targeting big $$$ bikes, there's point in putting this much work into a basic bike you'd sell for $100.
In my area (Minneapolis), we have a lot of stolen bikes, but nearly all are crimes of convenience - poorly locked outside, unsecured in apartment storage room, and detached garage break-ins are very common right now. We have a group on Facebook to post stolen bikes, many show up on on-line selling sites, it's surprising how dumb these bike thieves are.
Interesting. I would guess it's pretty location dependent -- I live in a small college town in the middle of 'Murica Ford Truck country where most people probably think Vincenzo Nibali is some sort of pasta dish, and the general crime rate is pretty low overall (I can leave my high-value bike locked up downtown with an Ottolock with a reasonable expectation that it will still be there when I get back.)
But in a place like Minneapolis, with a higher population and I'm guessing a higher overall bike IQ, I can see some enterprising thief learning about Strava and then figuring out how to use it to rob people.