Ways not to lock your bike

Hmmm, not sure about the scavenging thing. On the one hand, if the bike is abandoned, then it is OK, no? I mean, it's recycling isn't it? Better than it being removed by council and recycled as scrap. On the other, it is a slippery slope.. how do we know the bike is abandoned? How long is long enough?

I suppose the trick is working out if it is actually abandoned or not.

In this case that white tape/paper has been wrapped around the bike for at least 2-3 weeks now so it's fairly obvious it's been abandoned to anyone who passes regularly.