10-23-2008, 06:29 AM
I administer this site:
http://stolen.bikechicago.info
Got a pretty good grasp. Thievery trends can vary geographically though.
Regarding locking methods, the diagrams shown are spot on. My recommendation is 2 U-locks, at least one being of a newer, higherquality hardened steel variety.
What's missing is a little more specific info on what type of lock to use. Presently, everything out there below the Kryptonite series 2, Evolution, and New York series of U-locks is to be avoided.
See:
http://www.kryptonitelock.com/products/L...x?cid=1001&scid=1000
A year ago thefts of bikes locked with U-locks were less than one percent, but as bike become hotter than crack thieves are making strides and U-lock thefts come in weekly. Wish I had better data on which U-lock models are being cracked, but I think thieves have figured out that you can wack an older or cheaper U-lock with a hammer a few times and pop it open.
I don't believe there have everbeen a significant numberof thefts due to the bic pen trick.
http://stolen.bikechicago.info
Got a pretty good grasp. Thievery trends can vary geographically though.
Regarding locking methods, the diagrams shown are spot on. My recommendation is 2 U-locks, at least one being of a newer, higherquality hardened steel variety.
What's missing is a little more specific info on what type of lock to use. Presently, everything out there below the Kryptonite series 2, Evolution, and New York series of U-locks is to be avoided.
See:
http://www.kryptonitelock.com/products/L...x?cid=1001&scid=1000
It seems that over 60% of all bicycles stolen in Berkeley are unlocked at the time of theft. Of the remaining 40%, only 2% were stolen while using a U-lock. (OK now - this statistic is true)This jibes with the data I've collected. Most are stolen from garages or storage spaces that are not secure, many are just left unattended momentarily. Most of the locked bikes which get stolen (at least 80%) are locked with some type of cable lock. Lots of "sucker pole" thefts lately, where a thief removes the bolt from the base of a sign and checks back periodically to see if they caught one.
A year ago thefts of bikes locked with U-locks were less than one percent, but as bike become hotter than crack thieves are making strides and U-lock thefts come in weekly. Wish I had better data on which U-lock models are being cracked, but I think thieves have figured out that you can wack an older or cheaper U-lock with a hammer a few times and pop it open.
I don't believe there have everbeen a significant numberof thefts due to the bic pen trick.