1nterceptor

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/category/video-on-demand-news/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6091167 “That particular lock that I had on the bike will cover the cost of the bike up to $3,000 if it’s stolen…except in New York City. It’s the bike stealing capitol of the world,”

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/07/...west-side-gym/

Digital_Cowboy

Okay, what's the point of buying a lock that is:

a) named after your city
b) that carries a hefty insurance policy IF that policy isn't any good in your city

Doesn't that in and of itself kind of defeat the purpose of buying the lock in the first place?

KD5NRH

I'm not sure what warranty, if any, any of my locks have. I'm pretty sure the warranty on the $5 combination cable for the Huffy only guarantees that it will have mass and take up space.

OTOH, I don't live in a place known for bike theft. I've forgotten my lock and left the Trek bungeed to a rack (didn't want it falling over) on campus for a few hours with no problems. I rarely use the cable that came with my OnGuard lock unless there's just nothing I can get the lock itself onto.

If I had to go somewhere like NYC, I'd probably leave any bike worth more than $20 locked up indoors wherever I'd be staying and walk to any place where I'd otherwise have to leave it unattended.

Chris516

17 bikes stolen? I haven't owned that many bikes in my lifetime. She is definitely doing something that is causing her bikes' to be repeatedly stolen.

mnemia

Could just be where she typically rides. Some places have gangs of professional bike thieves, while others you could leave your bike unlocked and no one would touch it.

I usually only use a cable lock on my cheaper commuter (Trek 7.2FX) and I've never had any problem with theft over several years. But then again, I also only lock in very public locations, etc. The one bike I had stolen in my life was actually taken out of my garage when someone broke in.

genec

I've had one bike stolen... and it was only a cheap beach cruiser. It was cable locked in a very public location.

billdsd

The locks with the name "New York" are covered in NYC. All of the locks without the name "New York" are not.

Click on "Which Kryptonite locks are covered by this insurance policy in New York State, but not in New York City?" on this page:

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/CustomerService/FAQ.aspx

Brennan

The best place I've seen for bike security was Japan. I was visiting people who lived on the outskirts of a major city, and was amazed at how people there would commute to the inner city. They would ride their bike to the train station, park it there, and take the train downtown. But the amazing part is everyone would leave their bike unlocked and unattended, all day long. Every day they would return from work, and their bike would still be there, waiting for them at the station. That just about blew my mind.

seeker333

Yep, and there were no reports of thefts and looting after the earthquake/tsunami. Reporters mentioned how the food/beverage vending machines hadn't been broken into and were still functional, days later. I think they even use and respect the humble "ding-ding" of a bike bell in Japan.

Digital_Cowboy

I had a similar experience. I'd gone out to the VA for an appointment. I'd locked my bike up; U-bolt through the rear wheel/frame and cable through both wheels and through the fence, covered it with my Topeak cover in a very public area and went inside. When I came back outside to leave. I uncovered my bike and discovered that I hadn't pushed the lock on the cable all the way closed. No one messed with my bike while it was unattended. With the cover on it they had no way of knowing if it was totally secure or not so that probably saved me. That and it's where the smokers can see it as well as the person who helps to coordinate with the pick up and drop off of patients.

Now though I always double check to make sure that the cable IS locked. As just because I got lucky once doesn't mean that I'll get lucky a second time.

Digital_Cowboy

I've had two that I can remember being stolen. One off of our front porch when I was a kid in NYS, and the second from the garage when I'd moved to Fl with my mother.

Digital_Cowboy

I could have sworn that the guy who had had his bike stolen had said that the insurance policy wasn't honored in NYC. Also if I am not mistaken, I think that it is even quoted in the OP by the OP.

exile

Having a lot of locks is one thing, but knowing how to use them properly is another.

Just looking at the video it seems at the :13 as well as the 1:08 mark that the thief is sliding a U-lock (intact) up the down tube so he can pedal away. What was that particular U-lock locked to (besides the bike itself)?

Also at the :55 mark you see Lonnie holding up a chain lock left on the rack that looks to be still locked and intact. Again, what was it locked to (besides the rack)?

Hal Ruzal gives some pretty good pointers in this clip.

degnaw

At school I routinely see thousand+ dollar bikes locked up with cable locks, and none get stolen. It's amazing.

Cyclomania

I think the cops in new york should set up decoy bikes and nab those thieves! Similar to decoy prostitutes nabbing johns or decoy buyers nabbing drug dealers. Somethings gotta change there, this is crazy!

If I lived in new york or London I'd probably ride an old huffy with rust and peeling paint, not a $$$$ ^%$#%^^**& bike!
Outrageous, security guards in Long Beach doing nothing!!!

fuji86

Well when you keep leaving $ 2,300 on the sidewalk, someone's bound to be tempted to just attempt to take it.

dougmc

Do be aware that these "insurance" policies have all sorts of exclusions and requirements -- they make it as hard as possible to make claims against them.

If the thief didn't leave the lock? No claim.
If the thief used a power tool? No claim.
If the bike was stolen without breaking the lock? (Disassembling a bike rack, for example) ... no claim.
If the lock wasn't properly registered beforehand? No claim. (And if I recall correctly, you often have to pay to register the bike with their program.)
If you don't have a receipt for the bike? I'm not sure ...

If you want bike theft insurance, get it from a real insurance company. Don't rely on what the lock manufacturer offers -- because the odds aren't you won't get it.

Kurogashi

After watching that documentary, I am truly disgusted by the amount of theft in this world. I never knew London was such a hot spot for thieves. I guess the recent riots stem from these thieves.

On the contrary, Japan has this very unique bike locking system. It's basically a machine that will take your bike and lock it underground! The only draw back is that there's a membership fee or a daily fee, I forgot which of the two, but it's pretty darn awesome if you ask me.

LemondFanForeve

LOL, probably STOP BUYING BIKES? if the first 16 being stolen didnt give you a hint? I guess nothing will?

LemondFanForeve

Too funny. A black guy calling a white guy the N word? that's the best part of the whole thing. I wouldve went off on him.

Fasteryoufool

LOL, this is awesome:

Soma Roark

I had one bike stolen from the backyard. They just cut the kryptonite U-lock! After that I take every precaution I can, and store it indoors when I can. But it does ruin many things, some short trip riding, faith in humanity/decency, etc... Has anyone read freakonomics? In it they talk about how cleaning up crime in NYC started with little things ie. cleaning up graffiti right away, citing subway hoppers, etc... It seems to be that the same should be done here. Invest in "petty" crimes and I bet the overall picture will improve. Why can't our society be more like Japan (respect for ownership and property, civility, etc) I have no idea... sigh...

Fasteryoufool

I think part of the problem is that the vast majority of people out there think of bike theft as petty theft, because they've never bought anything but a POS from Wal-Mart which they never ride anyhow. It doesn't occur to them that the bike they've watched get stolen was worth more than their 20 year old Taurus.

jsdavis

Even this is quite sketchy because they give have a short window to register the lock. For Kryptonite and Onguard, it's within 15 days of purchase.

If one has home owners or renters insurance, then the "insurance" really only covers the difference in what the insurance pays and the price of the bike not including accessories, which basically means the insurance deductible if I read Onguards website correctly.

Other conditions are that the theft must be reported within 72 hours to law enforcement and a copy of the police report sent to Onguard within 7 days along with the insurance claim, the broken lock, and keys.

iconicflux

That's rich since the PD here seldom have a report ready in 7 days.