Originally Posted by
Geordi Laforge
Expensive locks can and will be cut/drilled out (send a private message to the locksmith guy and ask how easy it is to drill out a high end u-lock) if the thief has an opportunity and a motive. 3 minutes with a portable angle grinder or a portable drill is all it takes. If one can make a few hundred bucks with a 1/2 hour of work, they'll do it even if it's risky. You're familiar with a concept called "crime" right?
What is so hard about grasping that even high-rated and expensive locks can be defeated and are being defeated in major cities?
Opportunity and motive are the key words. This is what our campus police are preaching. Yes, you can't defeat a skilled thief with JUST a lock. The toughest Kryptonite is breakable if the dude and his grinder have three minutes of complete solitude with your very desirable bike. One decent lock is going to do the trick on an average bike parked beside a busy sidewalk or in front of a restaurant window or at the collection house of a city parking ramp with security on hand (one of my favorite spots on campus). People are too lock-centric and not attentive or creative enough about the other factors.
I live near Chicago and I go down there and see gorgeous bikes locked well (or not so well) but left underneath the L all day in racks where no one walks by except at rush hour. I'm guessing those bikes are each in about the same spot day after day for thieves to salivate after. And then someone's heavy duty Kryptonite lock gets run through and they rage at the lock or Chicago. If you commute in a place like Chicago you just have to be more creative than that. A lesser bike or a better route or parking spot - something. Lock is just one part of the equation.