Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 12, 2012 - 12:52am PT
My bike was stolen yesterday in Seattle. I'll be doing the usual things -- file a police report, keep an eye on Craigslist for Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, but if any of you spot a "Bike for Sale" ad offering a red Bianchi Eros road bike, I'd appreciate hearing from you.
Looks like this:
And since somebody is bound to ask, yes, it was locked. It was in a downtown Seattle parking garage, in an area that's well lit and quite visible. But it turns out that a quarter-inch steel cable is no match for someone who's quick with a bolt-cutter.
Foot long bolt cutters tucked into a laptop bag means less than ten seconds to ride off with your bike. You can cut a 1/4" cable in less time than it takes to unlock. The mid- range u-locks take 5 minutes with a hack saw, or a three foot long bolt cutter. They say the "new York" u-lock takes a blow torch. Ymmv
Sorry to hear that Ghost, hope u get it back. Place a Craigslist ad under wanted to buy for a similar bike in a town close to yours. It's a long shot but its free & takes as long as an ST post. Maybe they will bring it back?? All kinds of thiefs selling sh#t on there, gotta be a few browsing.
Unfortunately locks are basically just deterrents. I remember when it came out that some of those super secure key bike locks could be opened by pushing a BIC pen in far enough to mold to the inside. I hope you get it back and that the thief pays the price
I doubt that I'll get it back, but there's always a chance, so I thought I'd try.
Having my bike stolen provoked a much more visceral reaction than having my car stolen. The car? Well, who knows? Maybe somebody needed it. Or someone was drunk enough to think he needed it. I expected I'd get it back, and I did.
But the bike? Nobody stole that out of any need for a bike. It was a professional thief taking it strictly for the money, and that's pretty low.
shit happens so fast. i recall walking in downtown SF one day. all the traffic was stopped at the stop light and this dude pulls his car over super quickly, hops out with bolt cutters, clips this bike off a pole on the side of the road, stuffs the bike in his car and proceeds to pull his car back into traffic and take off right as the light changed. this was like 1pm middle of the day right out front of hastings law college. soo quick i didnt even have time to get the celly out to snap one of his license plate.
But for your next bike.. Don't use a cable. The "New York" Kryptonite chain and lock are a better bet although very heavy. Still not going to stop an angle-grinder but you can't just snip a link with regular bolt-cutters (I've tried).
sincerely wish you good luck retrieving it, i have felt the bike theft pain a few times.
London has gotten crazy bad for bike theft since you could buy cordless dremels and grinders cheap, no lock lasts more than a minute or so against a determined scumbag
one thing to keep in mind, if you are commuting you can always leave a 20 lb lock at your destination. Don't have to always carry it. Taking in the front wheel is also probably helpful. Then even if they cut the lock they can't ride away.
That video is something. But the guy looks so clean cut. Who would imagine him as a thief. lol We lost the key to a friends bike once, locked up at the University of Washington campus. So we did the hacksaw thing (didn't have bolt cutters). Five minutes later we had the bike free and no one even stopped to ask what was going on. sometimes the audacity alone will make people presume you are legit.
In the off chance that someone sees this model bike for sale, what size is it? What type of pedals? What kind of tires? Any aftermarket parts to ID it by?
That sucks Ghost.
There has been a lot of break-ins and stuff stolen here in Georgetown lately. My truck was broken into 3 times & my buddy's license plate was stolen & the cops found it on another car in Burien.