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Came out of work yesterday...

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Came out of work yesterday...

Old 03-30-08, 08:20 AM
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Came out of work yesterday...

and my trek 4300 was gone. I've had it for a little less than a year, and I love that bike.
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Old 03-30-08, 08:31 AM
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Sorry to hear that. How have you been locking it up? Do you have the serial number to give to police?
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Old 03-30-08, 08:22 PM
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i do have the serial in my paperwork, but do you think it would make a difference to give it to them. I mean I know it wouldn't be any type of priority for them and the serial number is probably filed off right. I'm just bummed about the whole situation. I feel like the bike is just gone.
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Old 03-30-08, 09:49 PM
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I recommend you put stolen bike in every local bike shop, thrift store, second hand store, forum, paper, advertising board, notice board, etc.

You never know what might turn up.
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Old 03-30-08, 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by quarters
and my trek 4300 was gone. I've had it for a little less than a year, and I love that bike.
Sorry to hear about that!

For (future) reference, how did you secure or lock your bike?
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Old 03-31-08, 09:38 AM
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I never had a bike stolen before. I just had it secured with a cable lock that went through the fraim and front weel then around a pole. They used a bolt cutter and went clean through the cable.
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Old 03-31-08, 10:01 AM
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My sympathies. I have a Trek 4300 also.

If the theft was a non-professional crime of opportunity, then the bike might just get dumped somewhere and show up at the police station. In a case like that, having reported the theft might produce some results.
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Old 03-31-08, 10:36 AM
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I don't know how it works with bikes, but when my apartment was burglarized, having all the serial numbers allowed my to retrieve two of my stolen items. One turned up at a pawn shop, where they are required to run all the serial numbers before selling the item, and one item was found during, I think, a drug bust. This was with electronics, so I don't know if similar procedures are followed with bicycles, but, depending on where you live, even if they do come across the bike, they may not make the connection based on a description, but, if the serial number is intact, that would be an easy match to make. How likely that is depends on a lot of factors, but I know how likely they are to make a serial number match if you don't give it to them ...
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Old 03-31-08, 10:42 AM
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I lost a cheap cruiser once... it was my transportation to work at the time too. I had locked it in full public yet no one seemed to have seen it disappear. Bikes as well as cyclists seem to be invisible.
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Old 03-31-08, 11:43 AM
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It's a long shot but report the serial number anyway. If your bike shows up at some point at least you'll get it back. Also if you find it on sale somewhere (yes thieves are often that idiotically brazen) then having the police report on file and your bill of sale will settle the argument.

It was obviously a habitual crook that took it. Opportunistic folks don't walk around with heavy duty cable cutters.

It's sad that some people seem to think that it's OK to harvest their income from the rest of us by stealing our stuff.
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Old 03-31-08, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by quarters
I never had a bike stolen before. I just had it secured with a cable lock that went through the fraim and front weel then around a pole. They used a bolt cutter and went clean through the cable.
That's how I (and many other people) lock bikes also. Damn those bolt cutters!

Those cable locks are only good for stopping casual or opportunistic thefts. I'm aware of bike clamps that are made of more substantial metal. However, I don't know if these clamps would hold up against (large) bolt cutters?

Realistically, really determined thieves will usually find a way to steal bikes regardless of how bikes are locked up, unfortunately!

Anyway, I sincerely hope you'll get your bike back!!
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Old 03-31-08, 12:14 PM
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Definitely give them the serial number. It can't hurt.

What I do is to take a picture of the bike. Go into Photoshop, Gimp, Microsoft Paint etc and put the serial number, make model, year and my name and contact info over the pic. That way if my bike gets stolen, I already have all the info that they need, in printed and digital form.
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Old 03-31-08, 02:14 PM
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Serial numbers aren't that easily removed when they are imprinted in the frame, they would have to weld over them and then file the weld smooth, and then repaint. It's likely they won't even bother removing the serial numbers, because there are thousands of bikes out there that look the same. They just won't likely bike past the spot they stole it from. Definitely file a police report and give them the serial number. Also check with your tenant insurance/home owner insurance policy, it may be covered.
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Old 03-31-08, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by playne
Serial numbers aren't that easily removed when they are imprinted in the frame, they would have to weld over them and then file the weld smooth, and then repaint. It's likely they won't even bother removing the serial numbers, because there are thousands of bikes out there that look the same. They just won't likely bike past the spot they stole it from. Definitely file a police report and give them the serial number. Also check with your tenant insurance/home owner insurance policy, it may be covered.
I've seen some bikes in the last few years where the s/n was simply put on a sticker stuck to the frame. Not sure if the s/n is stamped or imprinted into the frame in a more concealed location.
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Old 03-31-08, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by treebound
I've seen some bikes in the last few years where the s/n was simply put on a sticker stuck to the frame. Not sure if the s/n is stamped or imprinted into the frame in a more concealed location.
This is the case on my hardtail, but I got that bike in 1988. Hardly a new practice, unfortunately.
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Old 03-31-08, 03:12 PM
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That really sucks, but just goes to illustrate what I've been saying for years: cable locks shouldn't be used as your main locking system. Cable locks work fine in conjunction with a U-lock as a means of locking the front wheel to the frame and post, but they're too tempting a target when used as a sole means of security.

Techniques:Was the bike registered in any way? You might have a means of recovery if it turns up.
https://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/ - For the next bike (presuming you live in the US there are similar places for the rest of the world.
Lock links:
https://kryptonitelock.com/ My personal choice in locking systems. In my opinion, they have excellent customer service and they really stand by their products.
https://www.onguardlock.com/ Another fine lock company, their parent company Todson Inc. is also the parent company of Topeak. I've had a few dealings with Todson and have come away happy each time.
The only one I'd really tell you to stay away from would be Master Lock, I wouldn't trust them to lock garbage in NJ.
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Old 03-31-08, 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by quarters
i do have the serial in my paperwork, but do you think it would make a difference to give it to them. I mean I know it wouldn't be any type of priority for them and the serial number is probably filed off right. I'm just bummed about the whole situation. I feel like the bike is just gone.
Yes definitely report the theft and the serial number. It won't be a priority but if the police happen to recover stolen bikes during an investigation they will know who to call. I know people that have gotten calls from the police recovering a stolen bike a year or more later.

Sorry to hear about your bike
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Old 04-01-08, 06:16 AM
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I had my bike stolen from my shed back in 2001. I had all the details written down and I had a postcode stamped on the bottom bracket. I reported the theft to the police. Six months later I got a phone call from them - they had my bike! I was so chuffed.

They'd arrested some kids who were causing havoc in Market Square (Nottingham, England) and checked out the bikes on the computer as a matter of routine. So definitely report it.
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Old 04-01-08, 06:33 AM
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For next time, get a serious high end u-lock, and use that through the rear triangle, plus the cable through the front. Also, lock it next to a more expensive bike with worse locks. A determined criminal can get through anything, but if yours is not the most inviting target.....

I lost the key to my u-lock, and tried to break it with a hydraulic jack, and to cut it with a hacksaw, to no avail (I did inform the police first!). In the end, I had to buy a cordless angle grinder, and even that took several minutes. I have a pair of bolt-croppers I bought for $6 which would drop into my cargo pants pockets, and go through a cable lock in one bite. If your bike, and mine were side by side, yours, sadly, would be the one to go. It's a terrible thing to have happen, I hope you find a good replacement.
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Old 04-01-08, 04:43 PM
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Sad but true, cable locks are easily defeated, and should be sold with a disclaimer. I use two big, honkin' U-locks.
 
Old 04-01-08, 06:17 PM
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The Trek 4300 serial number is imprinted, not a sticker (to my knowledge) so it should be ok.

I hope your bike comes home soon.

Best of luck!
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Old 04-02-08, 04:20 AM
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quarters - Would You Mind !!!!

Telling us what cable lock system you had, so I may not buy one.

How thick was it and was it rated?

Thank you very much.


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Old 04-02-08, 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by wll
Telling us what cable lock system you had, so I may not buy one.

How thick was it and was it rated?

Thank you very much.


wll
Cable locks are deterrent level protection - they work best when paired with a U-lock as previously mentioned.
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Old 04-02-08, 01:26 PM
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That's too bad.

I hope that you will find her.
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Old 04-02-08, 05:33 PM
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What thickness of cable was it and what brand. Also, if you know how was it rated?

Thank you very much as I have a couple of very heavy duty cable locks, but if these were the the same as the one they cut on your bike I will toss them.

Thank you,


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