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Sorry to hear about that mate.
I wouldn't leave anything in Central London in the same place too frequently without it being chained to something solid. I had a bike nicked around the corner from my flat on Ridgemount Gardens at 1.30 in the afternoon on a Saturday. Almax through the wheel, alarm blaring - 4 guys dumped it in the back of a van with a neighbouring fireblade and drove off. The landlord of the pub opposite phoned the police straight away, who despite the 'ring of steel ANPR,' managed to do the square root of fuck all. Got a call from Camden CID a few days later saying they'd found a picture of the van driving out of the congestion charge zone an hour after the bike was reported stolen but that it had cloned rental company plates. That was the end of it...
Seems the vast majority of bike theft in town (at least for anything valuable) is pretty professional. Certainly never seemed like a priority for the bill to do owt about it either. Bummer.
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Jung
@Airhead
Thanks for that snoops.
I was relying on the steering lock only. Of course I realise now that it's not as safe a part of London as I thought. The parking bay is opposite the Punchbowl pub on Farm Street. It's quiet round there and I can see why it would attract thieves (now!). I've parked there a lot before but with the R80, which is not as tempting (based on the fact that I've had it for 10 years).
I've stayed away from newer/better bikes over time because of the theft problems but caved last year and was enjoying having a modern fast bike. In truth the 1150 is not a great town bike, I'll probably change for something that rolls around at low speed a bit more happily. Or just stick with the R80.
In short, if you are wrapping a chain around the seat, away from the ground and potential leverage for chain breakers you will stop most casual thieves. When I called to report the theft they let me know that they would access the number plate cameras around London to see if it was being ridden with the proper plates on, but advised me that the plates are often changed at the point of theft. I had no additional immobiliser so anyone overcoming the lock could ride it. Of course a chain wouldn't stop them lifting it onto a van.