bicycle security

[Tmcgahe2]

My bike was stolen from the back of my truck two days ago. This whole situation got me thinking about how I could have better protected my bike.

my uses:
I'm a college student who uses his bike daily to commute to and from classes. On the weekends I take it out on the trails. My bike is constantly in the bed of my truck from traveling.

Heres how mine was stolen:
I just happened to pick a bad weekend to come home to visit family.
Four days ago we had a horrible storm that knocked down a massive oak tree in our backyard on to the rear roof of the house. It did a ton of damage and left a hole in the roof 20ft x 4ft long. We had to have a tree cutting service come and remove the tree so that the roofers could fix the roof.
I store my bike in the backyard chained to the carport when visiting my family. My mom asked me to move it so the tree cutters would have plenty of room and incase a limb fell it wouldn't damage the bike. Since my bike was covered in mud from trail riding I didn't want to bring it inside the house. Instead I put it in the standing position in the bed of my truck and locked both the tires to the shackles in the bed of my truck with my Kryptonite cable lock. Woke up the next morning to find the cable lock cut and my bike gone.
I never really noticed how little cable there is in the cable locks that have a plastic coating, its very deceiving.

How does everyone secure their bikes when not in use? Specifically when they are stored on their vehicle. What type of locks are the preferred?

Thanks for the help. I'm quite frustrated at the moment.

 

[Corey]

Sorry to hear of the loss of your bike.
Thieves suck big time.

I too use a Kryptonite cable lock to secure my mountain bike to my Thule T2 rack.
But it is always in my sight when out camping.
In camp I lean it against a tree, but at night when sleeping, it is chained up again.

At home it is never left outside on the rack out of my site from more than a few minutes.
Not sure how you could secure it much better except if it was in a canopy and the topper was wired to your alarm system to go off.

 

[preacherman]

I worked in a bike shop for years and I have seen it all. Quite frankly any bike left outside can be stolen if a thief has enough time and/or a knowledge of bikes. I have even stored mine in the front bench seat of my truck before just to get it inside. In my experience the best way to lock a bike to a car or truck is with a thule or yakama fork system along with a quality cable mounted lock through the frame. I always try to make it more complicated to steal.

I think most things that are stolen in a situation like yours is opportunity. Most likely some dirtbag drove by, saw you bike and thought, "Hey I have some bolt cutters in my tool box, I bet I could take that bike pretty easy". If you have combination of good security it twarts some theft because most thieves go for the easy target.

Make sure and report it stolen with your local police. You would be surprised how many stolen bike show up at local pawn shops. I even have had guys come by the local bike shop looking for quick cash. You may get it back if it's reported stolen, you will 100% not get it back if you don't report it.

Sorry for the bad luck, that sucks.

 

[Christophe Noel]

Bummer.

As stated above, a determined bike thief will find a way to make your bike his. The key is to make your bike appear to be a hard to steal bike. For me, that might be double cables, double locks, and I've even been known to put Christmas bells on my bike - poh man's alarm.

My other tips: On your next bike, take the fork off and put a label on the steerer tube. Have it include your info and read, "This bike is stolen - Reward offered." You never know if that bike will end up in a shop and maybe they'll find that little message. I put the same message on my rim strips. Even if it doesn't get your bike back, maybe it will help snag a thief. When I worked in a shop that included those notes on steerers, we'd retrieve at least half a dozen bikes a season.

My other tip: Be aware that many bikes are parted out on the scene and not stolen outright. If I want your fork, and your bike is locked by the frame, all I need is a 5mm allen, cable cutters and about 15 seconds. If your bike is locked by the fork, the same tools and I have your bike minus a fork.

Sorry about your bike.

 

[FreeManDan]

Do you have pics of the cut cable? I would like to see up close sir, as I store my bike in the bed of my truck all the time. My job(s) have secured parking lots, and my home has a car port i back into...it burns me up that a crook would jack something out of a truck bed parked in some ones driveway. I cable lock my bike to my trucks bed extender, and with the tailgate locked, the bed extender can not come out. (See pic) To remove the bed extender, ark it vertical and pill straight up, I have pulled the bike out with the bed extender still locked to it, just to see how hard it was....it was hard, people with back problems shouldn't take up a life of crime. But it could be done in minutes

The weakness I see (other then the one your incident illustrated) is that a crook with a sawsall or reciprocating saw could cut the bed extender if time permits and they aren't afraid of making noise. Witch is why I WEAVE the cable in, as to double the amount of cutting needed.
Also the tie down hooks are a no go as they are just that, hooks. My riding buddy has a chevy and his are closed loops held in by star nut drivers (popular on GM). If a crook had star nut drivers, there is your weakness, but sometimes he loops into the hole in the bed rail where that construction truck stuff goes...you know to store a ladder or pipe above the bed and cab...
I've used this set up for years, and your post makes me want a better lock. You see, i was of the belief that you couldn't cut a cable in an hours time because you just squish the cable, as I have tried this on a cable lock with the key broken off in it

 

[FreeManDan]

a few minutes of searching the interweb and here is what i have to show for it

Video of steel core security straps, I might get a 2 pack for more then just bikes
http://www.steelcore.net/video/howtough.mov

Would you belive there is a debate in the motorcycle world as to witch is better, cable or a chain? Well this british company makes an uncuttable chain, there should be something like it in the states...

 

[4xdog]

Stolen bicycles suck. Sorry to hear about your theft.

I use a strong lock, and almost never leave the bike out of sight unless it's in a secure area -- like inside the gate at my office building.

Abus in Germany make some great bike locks. I use one of the ones with a pretty high security rating by their system. I'm going to get one of the Abus folding locks the next time I have a chance.

I also put my name, phone, and address inside the bottom bracket shell, in the *small* chance that someone later may find the info and get in touch.

 

[Tmcgahe2]

First let me say thank you to everyone who replied. I will be more conscious about where my bike is left. I'm in the process of rethinking my bicycle security measures.

Secondly MY BIKE WAS FOUND TODAY!!! :wings: Man what a relief. The Police found it downtown unattended beside a building.

Here is a picture of the cable locks cut:

I called Kryptonite today to speak with a customer service representative to see if my bike lock had any kind of anti theft warranty. Plus their website encourages you to call them if you purchased one of their locks and your bike was stolen while in its use. Off the Kryptonite website:
"We are so sorry to hear about your loss. Please contact customer service because all of our products have a limited lifetime warranty; we want to talk to you about this."

The Kryptonite representative I spoke to had the worst public relations I have ever seen. I believe she was eating or chewing gum while I was on the phone with her too. I was given one word answers for every single question I had. It was either a Yes or a No with nothing else. She had ZERO sympathy that my bike was stolen while locked under their false security measures. I told her I wasn't looking for them to replace my bike at all, I only wanted to see if they would replace the cut lock. She told me I could send them the lock and they might replace it. "MIGHT replace it" and on my dime. I'd at least like to know that if I'm going to mail it to them that they'd replace it. Needless to say I will not be purchasing another lock from them. I just wanted to share my experience with them.

 

[Corey]

Glad your bike was found.
I would get her name, the woman you spoke with, then contact the CEO and let him know how you were treated.