There's an abandoned bicycle in the parking garage for my condo I'd like to donate to a charity, and it's got a u lock around the frame and front wheel. We know it's abandoned because the people who lived in that unit moved out a month ago and haven't been back to claim it. I haven't looked closely at the lock to see if it's one that can be opened with a bic pen and figure it will take a screw jack or grinder to get the lock off. Given that the bike is a kids Schwinn I doubt it's a very strong lock, but still I'd prefer to get it off with the least amount of damage.

Easiest would be a corded angle grinder... Probably take longer to run the extension cord than to cut the shackle.

In the middle of grinding would be a bad time to find out their neighbors were watching it for them till they could come back and get it.

Haha. So true!

Maybe give some thought to involving the condo association since it is not your place to just decide the property is abandoned?

We're a step ahead of you there as I'm the president of the association and the owner of the unit is another board member. One of the complaints I had to deal with was the amount of stuff they had piled up in their parking space that kept them from being able to pull their car all the way into the space. It's not very often that the problems I have to deal with like this could have an outcome that benefits others.

Try some bolt cutters.

no one has mentioned using an aerosol can to freeze and smash with a hammer.

I've bought used bikes with U-Locks.... The angle grinder cuts them off pretty effectively... if you can borrow one somewhere.

If you can make sure the bike is working 100%, then the charity donation sounds good. Church group or whatever. Unless it comes back to your condo , it would be hard to say you benefited from it directly. Or, of course, thrift store donations.

Maybe you know this, but check up on safety issues before using an angle grinder, particularly eye protection and fire risk.