Bike Stolen - Any suggestions on getting it back?

[Sudheendra]

Hi Everyone,

I've been a silent spectator in this community, today with a deep disillusion I write this email. I moved to Bangalore in June after finishing my college and since then living in Indiranagar. My friend gifted me a bike in August and I've used it for commuting to office. In the mid of August a thief along with his friend cut the lock (along with the iron chain) and stole my bike around 5 am in the morning. Everything was recorded in CC Camera and I've approached the police who visited my place, took pictures, video but never called me again. I was very disappointed and it took me sometime to get back to normal state. Last Sunday 7th of December I visited Decathlon and fell in love with Rockrider 5.0.  I moved on to a new place but again in Indiranagar, we had a school on our street and my neighbors had dogs, all these factors made me buy this bike. It has been barely a week and someone stole my bike again! I can't just believe this is happening second time in last 5 months :(  

This whole thing seems like a Mafia, any one experienced this problem in your locality? Anyway we could solve this problem? 

PS: If anyone of you is having an old bike and not using and like to sell, please private message/email me!

Sudheendra

[berkeleydb]

Sorry to hear about the incidents. Not sure re: follow up from cops. Was there a FIR that was lodged the first time time? Try the same again, & maybe check back with the cops a few times. And if you have the bike frame serial number, I think the BOTS site might have a place to record it (not sure).

I don't think it's safe to park a bike (with a cable lock) for long in a place where it's visible/accessible to all, unless there is some person supervising the parking area properly. More so if one is going to be parking in the same place regularly. Makes it easier for someone to observe & plan to steal the bike. If there is a guard, do speak to them once, so that they have some extra awareness of the bicycle being there.

As for the lock itself, depending on what lock you were using, you can consider a stronger one -- a thicker cable lock, or a good U-lock; the latter is considered to be much stronger than cable locks.

-{db}.

[Prashanth Chengi]

db has said it all; thieves usually scout around, looking for bikes to steal and I guess the professional ones even note details about type of lock, surroundings etc and come back later.  How you lock, what you lock with and what you lock to, all are important. You also need different strategies to protect your bike, if you are parking for ten minutes or parking for a few hours (or overnight).  Here are a few best practices from which you could choose whatever works best for you, or a combination of them. 

1. If it's a regular locking place, like outside your workplace or home, you can have industrial grade chains, which is long enough to go through the anchor point, both wheels and the center part of the frame. You could secure this with two high quality locks which you carry around with you. Remember to inspect the chain often, to ensure that nobody has tampered with them in your absence, if you leave them outside.

2. Carry on the bike a strong U-lock and maybe a cable lock, for parking for a maximum of an hour.  A cable lock alone is something you can only rely on for a ten-fifteen minute stop, that too in a very public place.  

3. If you are parking outside your house or workplace, you can try removing the front wheel and carrying it indoors. Easily done if you have a QR skewer and is a solid extra deterrent for anybody intending to ride away the bike.  You still need to use a strong lock, as sometimes thieves come equipped with a pickup vehicle. 

All the best with keeping your next bike secured. 

/Prashanth

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[Opendro]

Good thoughts Prashanth.