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@MrDrem
So if I buy something nice it is my fault that people want to steal it?[/QUOTE]
What do you think??[/QUOTE]
I think that is some of the worst reasoning that I have ever heard.[/quote]
It's a shame that the last bit of Multi Groves paragraph got lost
The interest in flashy bikes, for a silly cheap price is to an extent what drives the theft of them. Lots of people feel (rightly or wrongly) that they don't have a lot of money, and see cycling as something that will save them money. To get into it though, they don't want to throw a lot of cash at it, and if they can get a nice looking bike from a guy at a market they will do. They are most likely not even considering that the bike might have been stolen. The thieves steal what they think that they can sell, and a flashier bike will sell for more.
To an extent, the trade in stolen brooks saddles bears this out. They are expensive, desirable, and virtually untraceable. Much like bikes. In fact I'd almost go as far as to say that cars having numberplates (large, and readable by anyone) may help in preventing car thefts but I bet that there are no stats to back that up, as I'm unaware of anywhere with a car orientated culture that doesn't have registration plates.
I'm not saying you shouldn't have a flashy bike, just if you do, you need to be prepared to spend a bit more on protecting it, because thieves will, and do target that sort of bike.