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I got home and found out my bike was stolen :(

Old 02-14-19, 08:38 PM
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I got home and found out my bike was stolen :(

I live in an apartment building. My apartment is too small to store my bike and I don’t have a patio. For the past 4 years I have been locking my bike to the railing on the landing of a lightly used interior stairwell. It is not visible from the street and is secured since the gate requires a key. The stairwell faces another building. So it isn’t visible from the street or anything.

Several other people parked their bikes on the ground floor below this landing.

Well apparently someone left the gate open. And most of the bikes were stolen. Or had parts stolen. Mine was cut from the railing and stolen.

I thought my spot was pretty safe, but clearly this person had plenty of time. And my building has few people home during the day - no one would have seen anything.

I’m crushed. My bike was a carefully curated (by me) custom build.

Now I am not sure how I want to replace. And how much work to put into trolling all of the various sources of stolen bikes.
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Old 02-14-19, 08:47 PM
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No apt is to small to store a bike. It really sucks but now you get to create another master piece.
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Old 02-14-19, 08:54 PM
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My bike was a carefully curated (by me) custom build.
That would chap my ass too. It's one thing to have some stock bike that can be purchased off the rack stolen, but when it has some of your own mojo to it, it's special.

The only good thing is it may be easy to identify if you ever get the chance.

I'm with Bmach in that no apartment is too small for a single bike. I'd get rid of furniture if necessary. But first I'd have to go acquire some furniture in order to get rid of it.
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Old 02-14-19, 09:10 PM
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When in college I live in some very tiny places (never liked dorm or the room-mate thing) ..2-3 hundred square feet..I always had room for my bike. Even when I lived in the maid's quarters on the third floor of a large home..just humped the bike up three flights. It was-is a higher end ride..bought it in 79 and still have it.

..that aside..very sorry for your loss
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Old 02-14-19, 09:25 PM
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I don't miss big cities.
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Old 02-14-19, 09:29 PM
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I'm sorry to hear that. That always hurts. I did recover one of my stolen bikes by checking CL yrs ago. Nowadays there's let go and offer up as well. Good luck.

When I first moved from home into a 340 sq ft apt my bike was parked inside with me. Kinda crowded but..
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Old 02-14-19, 09:41 PM
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I have a small alcove behind my front entry door. It measures 22" deep by 41" wide. I built a storage shelf under which I am able to hang 2 bicycles. The shelf has space where I can store most of my sports gear. It just takes a bit of creativity
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Old 02-14-19, 10:05 PM
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I'm not being insensitive or piling on. I just don't want this to ever happen to you again.

'Cut from railing'. They cut your lock? Try the 'two U-lock method'. They cut the railing? That's sucks, but it can happen in any 'common area', particularly one that's out of sight and unvisited for lengthy periods. Get the bike inside - there are ways: indoor racks that lean against the wall*, bikes that fold as thin as 15cm, etc. Once you get the bike inside, try the two U-lock method.

*Googling around I found everything from fancy 'Scandinavian style' leaning racks to DIY ones made from scrap lumber or PVC pipe, many of which could go against the wall above your sleeping mat in your 13 m^2 apartment.

Last edited by tcs; 02-15-19 at 09:29 AM.
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Old 02-14-19, 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by locolobo13
...checking CL yrs ago. Nowadays there's let go and offer up as well...
...and Facebook marketplace and...
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Old 02-15-19, 12:56 AM
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Arrrggg, terrible news. Sorry for your loss. Security cams at the building entrance? I guess not.
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Old 02-15-19, 01:24 AM
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Bummer.

It should be a crime that would be worth investigating for the police, if not, its not a good sign long term.

If this crime goes unchallenged, what's next?

I've made a habit to carry two of my bikes up to my 6th floor apartment, the beater gets locked to a pole outside.

Theft isn't much of an issue any more because of the strong supply of rental bikes.
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Old 02-15-19, 01:38 AM
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One word: insurance.
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Old 02-15-19, 04:48 AM
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I’m starting to think it was targeted. My bike was decked with dynamo lights and an internal hub. Not sure what other bikes were stolen but I noticed the fancy dutch bike with the IGH and rear light was missing the rear wheel. The bikes with flattires were not taken.

I’ve been locking my bike there for almost 4 years. It is a low trafficed staircase where I was the only person who used it with any regularity. I did not use dual u locks since my wheels and other components had pinheads.

I didn’t examine the railing closely. I also used less caution locking up in my building due trusting my neighbors and the low visibility parking spot.

Recently the mailroom key was stolen. I wonder if the front door key was compromised too. This alley between the buildings required both the front door key and knowledge of its existsnce. The only other regular usees of the space were construction crews fow anyone doing renovation.

So upon further thought it is looking suspicious.
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Old 02-15-19, 04:59 AM
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I'd be looking for someone's head: is there any CCTV of the incident? Can you find out how people entered the building? If there were building keys stolen recently, were you notified the building was no longer safe and could be accessed by anyone?
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Old 02-15-19, 06:12 AM
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At least in Europe, this is how most bikes end their first lives. (Usually due to space issues). It just goes with the territory.

Also, I'm not sure it's even a bad thing and it keeps the bicycle market running and allows people to upgrade every few years. Most urban dwellers won't do this as they don't have the space.
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Old 02-15-19, 06:16 AM
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I had a bike stolen years back. A Peugeot UO-8 fixie conversion. I foolishly left it outside the door at my job assuming most people would be uncomfortable on a fixed fear with cages. I was wrong.
i went through all the usual outlets. Notified the police. Posted online. Told the local shops. As luck would have it, several months later I found it leaning against a tree and took it back. Now my bike stays inside. My girlfriend doesn't love the idea of a dirty bike in the apartment but she understands these things.
In an old apartment I built a wall hanger for it and it hung above my couch. There are some space saving methods out there.

Sorry about your bike. Good luck .
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Old 02-15-19, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by acidfast7
Also, I'm not sure it's even a bad thing and it keeps the bicycle market running and allows people to upgrade every few years. Most urban dwellers won't do this as they don't have the space.
The UK seems to have the bicycle theft market cornered.

I really hate the idea of perpetuating theft.

Don't steal, the government hates competition.
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Old 02-15-19, 07:46 AM
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Originally Posted by tcs
I'm not being insensitive or piling on. I just don't want this to ever happen to you again.

'Cut from railing'. They cut your lock? Try the 'two U-lock method'. They cut the railing? That's sucks, but it can happen in any 'common area', particularly one that's out of sight and unvisited for lengthy periods. Get the bike inside - there are ways: indoor racks that lean against the wall, bikes that fold as thin as 15cm, etc. Once you get the bike inside, try the two U-lock method.
There used to be a thread about that somewhere. Couldn't find it searching for it.
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Old 02-15-19, 08:06 AM
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Sorry to hear about this. Hoping it is recovered in good shape.
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Old 02-15-19, 08:18 AM
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
I don't miss big cities.
We don't miss you either.
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Old 02-15-19, 09:03 AM
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it was probably the landlord or his maintenance person. call him to confirm, then file a small claims lawsuit
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Old 02-15-19, 09:12 AM
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Sounds like this was an inside job. That is, someone within your apartment complex or someone who regularly visits knew of the bikes in this area.

Chat it up with your fellow residents. Someone knows something.
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Old 02-15-19, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by jade408
I’m starting to think it was targeted. My bike was decked with dynamo lights and an internal hub. Not sure what other bikes were stolen but I noticed the fancy dutch bike with the IGH and rear light was missing the rear wheel. The bikes with flattires were not taken.

I’ve been locking my bike there for almost 4 years. It is a low trafficed staircase where I was the only person who used it with any regularity. I did not use dual u locks since my wheels and other components had pinheads.

I didn’t examine the railing closely. I also used less caution locking up in my building due trusting my neighbors and the low visibility parking spot.

Recently the mailroom key was stolen. I wonder if the front door key was compromised too. This alley between the buildings required both the front door key and knowledge of its existsnce. The only other regular usees of the space were construction crews fow anyone doing renovation.

So upon further thought it is looking suspicious.
Have you checked with the super to see if he knows anything?
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Old 02-15-19, 09:22 AM
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BillyD has a good point, and just maybe the apartment complex has them because storing bikes (or anything) under a stairwell is sometimes a code violation. They may have just removed all of the bikes. You'd expect some kind of advance warning but if inspectors came down hard on them, they may have panicked.
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Old 02-15-19, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by SHBR
The UK seems to have the bicycle theft market cornered.

I really hate the idea of perpetuating theft.

Don't steal, the government hates competition.
That is true. I'm happy being in a very high tax bracket as the government I live under uses the money efficiently.
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