Jeffery

What do you all think ?

KrisPistofferson

Probably a few, but not many. Bike thieves seem to be of the crackhead variety, and smarter criminals go for bigger stakes, methinks.

timmhaan

i think a small amount probably lurk, but it seems of the contributing members most have a respect for other people's bikes.

powers2b

I would think bike thieves would be too busy buying bic pens to spend a lot of time on a chat forum.

'nother

No, no, there are a lot of thieves lurking on here. And they're all trying to figure out the best angle of attack for tipping you over at the McD's drive-thru, then take your bike

Dahon.Steve

I find most bike crooks are very poor. I witnessed a bike thieve last month taking off the rear wheel from a rusting junk bike (Huffy) that was locked to a rack. Upon closer inspection, the wheel was so used up and rusted, I was shocked that someone would be so desparate to steal that kind of junk.

This is why I avoid bike racks. The very poor tend to get their parts from these racks.

jeff williams

What type of bike do you have...and where exactly do you live?

I have edited my posts to exclude information about theft methods I was made aware of.

But internet publishing can be good, the info about the Krypto locks was made available...how long had thieves been using bic pens?...if someone hadn't published, it might have gone on longer and more bikes. maybe yours might have been stolen.

supcom

I think bike thieves lurk around bike racks.

webist

I don't know that lurking on a forum would further the cause of stealing bikes directly. I suppose though that a cyclist is still a cyclist even if the ride is stolen. From that point of view, I suppose there are threads of value to them as a cyclist, if not as a thief.

alanbikehouston

I have yet to see documented proof that even ONE properly locked bike has been stolen using a BIC pen. Would you please post any evidence or documentation that this method has actually resulted in a bike being stolen?

The great majority of crooks are lazy. They grab the bike that is unlocked, locked with a $5 cable, or has the lock attached to a wheel with a quick release. Pro's target high end bikes, and have tools and techniques that are faster and more reliable than a BIC pen.

jeff williams

I don't use U locks, hardened\plated steel link chain with an inner tube sleeve. Big heavy lock.
Didn't follow the story.
But I see many Krypto locks locked to stands with no bikes.
I assume that the locks were compromised and left.
I know some commuters leave thier lock, locked to a rack so as to not carry it for the commute.
But that doesn't account for the amount and locations i've seen.

pnj

why would they hang around here? or any other bike forum?

there are high end thieves and I would image they go to the bike shops to find out what is high end.

I I was a thief, stealing high end bikes, the last place I would hang out is here. far too many adults. (this is coming from a juvinile)

chicharron

I think that we lurk around a lot of places.

jeff williams

https://thief-forum.ehost.pl/ Got own forum.

powers2b

Theifenese. It confuses the heck out of law enforcement

jeff williams

Brian

Let's see now. 2 Redline BMX race bikes stolen from my closed garage, one locked Mongoose stolen from school bike racks (bolt cutters used), and 2 custom (not cheap!) MTB's stolen from in front of a glass-fronted shop in broad daylight. They had to have a truck, because I blinked and they were both gone. Who gives a ***** if there's thieves reading the forum, that means they're not out there stealing bikes. Stealing is bad. Stealing a bike is bad karma.

roadfix

No. There's no money in bikes. I don't think a thinking thief would waste time lurking these forums.

hi565

Darnit Jeffery,

You Just Had To Blow My Case!



:d

Brian

The sad thing is that some loser or junkie is going to sell your stolen bike for $50 to go buy drugs or some smokes. Our tandem is the only one of it's kind in Australia, so it would be hard to pawn. Same with my wife's full suspension. It's an ex-factory race custom frame, and the only one like it left in the world (I bought the remains of the company, so I know). If it got stolen, the thief would never know the true value.

pnj

there is money in stealing. most low end stuff (including high end bikes/small items) are sold for drug money. so getting way below market value isn't much of a concern to the theif.

but I know that for awhile there was a group of break ins in washington state/oregon state where thieves targeted bike shops and stoled higher priced items. bikes and sunglasses, etc.

so, just as some people steal specific cars, some steal specific bikes. ebay is a thiefs friend.

supcom

I have four locks sitting at three different locations where I lock my bike while commuting. I doubt that a thief who compromised a U-Lock with a bic pen (or other means) would bother to secure the lock when he's finished. Even if he did, I would expect the owner to take the lock after he finds his bike missing.

Take a look at a bike rack at an primary school. You'll usually see multiple abandoned locks, even in summer.

Brian

You've just outline the difference between an opportunist thief, and a criminal enterprise. As individuals, our concern lies in protecting our bikes (all our belongings actually) from the opportunist. But there is still no money in it. They do it because the opportunity presents itself. Your bike is unlocked in front of Starbucks, then it's gone. They don't know a Specialized Stumpy from a hole in the ground, they're just looking for someone to give them a few bucks for it. I doubt any crims head out with the intention of stealing a bike. Maybe some do, but that would be the exception, not the rule.

Jeffery

Looks like my thread got a lot of views pretty quick. Not saying anything.

pnj

of course way more bikes are stolen as crimes of opportunitys.

which is why I don't think any thieves would be hanging out reading this horrible forum looking for info on high end bikes........