So I came out of the office this evening and my U-lock looked like this:



I've had this lock for almost 8 years and most of that time it's been locked to this bike rack, exposed to the weather, so theoretically this could have happened any time, but I hadn't noticed it before today. Looking at the picture now, it definitely looks like there's a spot where it was hit with something.

I didn't see any other signs of mischief, but I'll definitely be taking in a fresh lock tomorrow and probably parking closer to security.

Either a cavemen tried to use a rock to steal your bike or the elements got to the materials over time.

Looks like water got inside and froze, cracking the housing.

Looks like someone hit it with Freon then tried to shatter it. That's the way its done.

No, that plastic is not very heavy duty on those locks. I actually pulled it off my Onguard lock as all it did was add bulk.

I'm not suggesting this was the work of a professional thief. After all, my bike was still there. We haven't even had overnight lows below 25 in two months, so I doubt weather did it. My theory was that someone who hasn't stolen many bikes decided to take a crack at it and took off after seeing that it was going to be noisy.

I generally consider my work place to be extremely low risk crime-wise, though a colleague at the same campus but different building reported having a light stolen the day before. I just don't know if that correlates more with my cracked lock or the activity of my imagination.

It looks to me like there are some old scuffs and scrapes on the plastic.
Somewhere around a decade old, many plastics start becoming a little more brittle. It is plastic, right?

Any chance you've dropped the lock recently?

I just can't imagine a "thief" coming across a U-Lock for the first time in the field, and then trying to batter it with a rock to get it to open. Nothing makes it look like there are any tool marks on it. No hacksaw or sawzall marks. No bolt cutter marks. No signs of trying to squeeze a hydraulic jack into the middle.

So, my conclusion is that it is wear and tear. Any plastic should only be cosmetic.

Do not use the round key type of U-Lock.

You're probably right.

Looking at the picture last night (having left the lock at work) I had myself convinced that this was evidence of a tool-based impact:



Back at work this morning, I see that it's just one of the cracks and looked nothing like that when I popped it back into place.

Now back to my regularly scheduled suburban dream of security....

Virgil Starkwell could've done something like that.

Nah,that's par for the course for plastic-coated OnGuards. I've cracked every one I've owned.

If so, this is what it looks like when they're more successful.

Impossible to tell. But if you still have the bike, that's good news.

It depends. Post a pic of your commuter bike and we'll tell you whether or not its stealable.

the supposed thief left after just doing that to your lock?

I don't think I've seen a bike that a thief wouldn't steal, but I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this one.

OHH YEAH!!!, Put a Target on that Bad Boy.

Thanks to the Hit Movie "Premium Rush", the popularity of SS/Fixie bikes got a HUGE Shot in the Arm. Now considered absolutely necessary lifestyle support for Hipster (along with " Skinny Jeans " and " Pork Pie " hat).

Is the On Guard pictured in the first post the Primary/Only anchoring lock? If so, it MIGHT LAST till the first good rainstorm here in the City of Angels. Then "Gone in 60 Seconds".

I regret to inform you that there is a non-zero probability that someone may have attempted to brake your lock and steal this beauty. But realistically, considering how long you have had your lock and the fact that it has been outside for so long, decaying from exposure to the elements is probably more likely.

agree it looks like the elements got to your u-lock.