Stolen bikes

Yup, looks like a big pair of cutters from the half link on the floor. See pic.

As far as I know no-one heard anything, my apartment is a few floors up from the room, so no chance of me hearing anything. I'll talk to the porter tomorrow and see what other stories he's heard.

Would I have fared better with a bigger lock? I doubt it.. given the heist happened overnight in a room not directly connected to any apartments, they probably had all the time in the world to get through anything. There are certainly no "nice" bikes left in the room that were left due to having a super secure lock.

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yeah, thats pretty nasty dude,
sorry to hear such bastards are still around, and stealing from our men

Surely though its easier to punch the lock in than cutting it, no? A chizel, a hammer, job done

a strong D-lock work better than a chain lock thought, such as the NY Fahgettiaboutit Mini.

How do you know if you are safe using a U lock?

I have an old Krypto, and a newer, off brand U lock that I use (Both at the same time)

I heard that there are very easy ways thieves can pick these... is it true?

How do you know if you are safe using a U lock?

I have an old Krypto, and a newer, off brand U lock that I use (Both at the same time)

I heard that there are very easy ways thieves can pick these... is it true?

Because you want to make sure that when the lock is locked it forms a D shape not a U shape?

Because you want to make sure that when the lock is locked it forms a D shape not a U shape?

Ahh... right, right. I don't know why we call them U-Locks over here, because you are right. You are doing something very wrong if they look like a U.

You cant stop bike theft, but you can reduce it.

Id think that D locks are the safest thing out there for bike security, the more and the higher range the better.

A safe way to lock your bike is to have a good (kryptonite) D lock to go through your front wheel, frame and then locked to something immovable, also another equal quality D lock to go through your rear wheel, frame and locked to something solid and immovable. What I also personally do is have a nice cable lock to go through the saddle rails and lock that to the rear wheel too.

This locking system ensures both your wheels are locked and your frame is locked in two places as well as your saddle is locked up to a solid object. All I can say is this will ensure small-time punks wont nick your ride and the more experienced may not be tempted as much. You cant stop someone trying to steal your bike, but you can reduce the number of thieves that will try and succeed. Strength of the lock and the time it takes for the thief to brake it are the main factors. Im pretty sure that if youll put three d locks on all the time your bike will be as safe as it could be.

a strong D-lock work better than a chain lock thought, such as the NY Fahgettiaboutit Mini.

...still vulnerable to a angle grinder. might take 2 minutes or so.

when it comes to power tools, there's nothing you can do besides add more locks to increase time and get insurance and cross your fingers your're not unlucky enough to be a target of a professional criminal.

You cant stop bike theft, but you can reduce it.

Id think that D locks are the safest thing out there for bike security, the more and the higher range the better.

A safe way to lock your bike is to have a good (kryptonite) D lock to go through your front wheel, frame and then locked to something immovable, also another equal quality D lock to go through your rear wheel, frame and locked to something solid and immovable. What I also personally do is have a nice cable lock to go through the saddle rails and lock that to the rear wheel too.

This locking system ensures both your wheels are locked and your frame is locked in two places as well as your saddle is locked up to a solid object. All I can say is this will ensure small-time punks wont nick your ride and the more experienced may not be tempted as much. You cant stop someone trying to steal your bike, but you can reduce the number of thieves that will try and succeed. Strength of the lock and the time it takes for the thief to brake it are the main factors. Im pretty sure that if youll put three d locks on all the time your bike will be as safe as it could be.

Good to know that I am doing the right thing then --- or at least close to it. Once I buy a saddle worthy of protecting, I will get a cable lock for it as well.

don't bother with cable lock, just get an old chain, and loop the saddle to the frame, job done and doesn't cost pennies.

don't bother with cable lock, just get an old chain, and loop the saddle to the frame, job done and doesn't cost pennies.

i knew someone would say that, come one dude, looks fugly, weighs a ton and anyone with a chain removal tool can actually remove it in 5 seconds.

And yes i know not every burglar will go around with a chain tool, but its unpractical, with a cable lock you can also lock your saddle to your wheel or the fence or whatever

weight a ton? not really, impractical? how so? after you got your preferred height and saddle position, there's no reason to removed them, look is moot when it's functional.

Can you think of a reason why theft would carry a chain removal in the first place?

weight a ton? not really, impractical? how so? after you got your preferred height and saddle position, there's no reason to removed them, look is moot when it's functional.

Can you think of a reason why theft would carry a chain removal in the first place?

a thief might not, but any other cyclist cunt who fancies your saddle and carries one with him* might just go for it.

• i carry a chain removal tool with me all the time, as well as a few spanners and allen keys. If i wanted to, your saddle would be gone within 20seconds.
  Just to make sure - IM NOT - but anyone else who wanted to could.
  But cable cutters, i doubt one carries them everywhere he goes.
  

Good to know that I am doing the right thing then --- or at least close to it. Once I buy a saddle worthy of protecting, I will get a cable lock for it as well.

also a good thing to mention is that you need to try and vary places where you lock your bike. If you always lock your bike in the same place thieves will learn how you lock your bike and next time come back prepared with the right tools.

I know I'm repeating the same things said a thousand times before, but its worth repeating it again and again to help people escape bike theft

ask me recipes, whereabouts do you live? How old is your block of flats?

Sorry, I suppose I should be asking for recipes, but I could only come up with the above questions.

Heh.. I live in Bethnal Green, building is 50's vintage, but was done up in 2000ish.

Had a chat to the porter this morning, they're installing a second magnetic catch down the bottom of the door, and he now has total control over what keyfobs have access - before that was done offsite, so any lost keyfob wasn't cancelled it seems. From the records though, they saw that someone went in with a keyfob at 4:15am on the day my bike was nicked, so it seems that that was the time.

To be honest those secure doors are only as secure as the weakest link- and that tends to be people.

If you are leaving the room and someone is coming in with a bike did you tend to hold the door open for them? If so that is the easiest way in the world to get through the security.

"Shoulder surfing" is what it is normally called, I've seen CCTV footage that you would not believe of people walking into secure areas behind someone else.

If questioned they tend to say something along the lines of "oh sorry- is this not the toilet then?" and bugger off.

Heh.. I live in Bethnal Green, building is 50's vintage, but was done up in 2000ish.

Had a chat to the porter this morning, they're installing a second magnetic catch down the bottom of the door, and he now has total control over what keyfobs have access - before that was done offsite, so any lost keyfob wasn't cancelled it seems. From the records though, they saw that someone went in with a keyfob at 4:15am on the day my bike was nicked, so it seems that that was the time.

So is the parking room run as a 'club' of signed-up cycling residents, or is it open to all residents? (The latter can be asking for trouble, unfortunately.)

It was the latter, and looks like they're working towards it being the former. Such rooms are definitely a risk, but for that bike an acceptable one, it's why my £x000 mountain bike lives in the lounge, not that room.

I'm actually moving out in two weeks, so won't be availing myself of said room again. Hopefully insurance pays up so I can do a spot of post-wedding shopping :) have my eyes on a charge plug grinder I think.

RE: secure shared bike rooms

a couple of pages back I mentioned a mates bike (2007 plug w spd sl, black spec saddle & seatpost if you see it pm me) that was stolen from such a room. room had a key lock, but apparently there are standard locks that tradesmen/metermen have universal keys for... i.e. could be relatively easy for any punter to get their hands on them.

just an FYI

a thief might not, but any other cyclist cunt who fancies your saddle and carries one with him* might just go for it.

• i carry a chain removal tool with me all the time, as well as a few spanners and allen keys. If i wanted to, your saddle would be gone within 20seconds.
  Just to make sure - IM NOT - but anyone else who wanted to could.
  But cable cutters, i doubt one carries them everywhere he goes.
  
  

Well wouldn't the nicking of said saddle and post make him a thief?

Anyway not why I'm here, spotted this Condor racing bike on Gumtree and the fella seems to have various personalities.

http://www.gumtree.com/london/26/35366126.html

07534289727 the phone number pops up several different names and bikes on Gumtree.

stolen indefintely, he have the cheek to nick that photo off someone from here! (the person in picture is Emilie, I think).

Yep!

Ive seen that pic on here for sure! Maybe that answers the question of whether the tea leaves know of this.

WAC!

The ad has been taken down now.

THIS IS REALLY WORRYING

tea-leaves knowing:
1 - what bikes/parts are going to sell at a decent price
2 - 'tricks' we can use to deter the thiefs (e.g. chain to saddles)
3 - where big collections of nice sell-able bikes are and when (e.g. rollapolluza)