<div dir="ltr"><div><div>That really sucks.� My bike was stolen back in May from near Market and 3rd Street in San
Francisco.� I had it locked up at one of the bike racks and came back a
couple of hours later to find only the U lock laying busted on the ground.�
Looked like they hit it pretty hard with something as it was bent out of
shape.
<p>What I learned from this experience:</p><p>1) Get a really good lock. And keep in mind that even a U lock can be busted if they're big enough to get some leverage on. I lug around 2 of these suckers now: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Fahgettaboutit-Bicycle-U-Lock-6-Inch/dp/B000OZ9VLU/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1338792730&sr=1-2" target="_blank">www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Fahgettaboutit-Bicycle-U-Lock-6-Inch/dp/B000OZ9VLU/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1338792730&sr=1-2</a>� <br>
</p><p>2) Register your bike at <a href="http://bikeshepherd.org" target="_blank">bikeshepherd.org</a>!�
The process is really easy and they give you one of those stickers
that's damn near impossible to get off.� It's got a QR code on it, so
you put it on your bike so people can scan it to see if it's stolen, and
hopefully thieves will think twice about nabbing a bike that is
tagged.<br></p>
<p>3) Register your bike lock!� Most manufacturers have some sort of
insurance policy against theft, especially if it involves breaking their
lock.<br></p>
<p>4) Get renters insurance!� Most policies should cover bike theft.</p><p>5) Be mindful of where you lock your bike!� I had the mistaken
impression that locking up my bike with a U lock and cable was
sufficient deterrent, but clearly it wasn't.� These guys grabbed my bike
off a busy street in broad daylight.� If the place you're going has
some sort of interior bike storage put it there, and still lock it!</p>6) If you're concerned about seat theft (which you should be) you can get a little cable for cheap, or most bike shops should be happy to use a bit of bike chain to secure it to the frame for you.<br>
<br></div>7) Last, consider plastering your bike with stickers and/or duct tape. Anything to make it a little less attractive to thieves.<br><br></div>Sorry about your loss. Getting your bike stolen feels awful. It happens <i>a lot</i> and the authorities don't seem to care too much about it, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGttmR2DTY8&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL08BFA86B85B7B165">nor do passers by</a>. I talked to a cop who was standing nearby and he just kind of shrugged his shoulders.<br>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 3:28 PM, Lee Sonko <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:lee@lee.org" target="_blank">lee@lee.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr"><div>I hope you get your bike back too!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="im">On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 2:36 AM, Ever Falling <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:everfalling@gmail.com" target="_blank">everfalling@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>"<span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">It was locked with a pretty serious cable lock, which they cut pretty cleanly somehow"<br>
</span><br></div>
cable locks are generally ranked as the lowest form of lock you can buy.�I've�seen videos of people clipping through even thick ones with $20 bolt cutters in a few seconds.<br><br></blockquote><div><br></div></div><div>
+1</div>
<div><br></div><div>It has taken me <30 seconds to cut through a mid-range bike cable with tin snips. And tin snips are the wrong tool for the job.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm very happy with Pinhead locks and u-lock I have, securing my wheels and seat with a uniquely keyed lock. This does away with having to use a low security and high bother cable lock on the wheels and seat. If you get a Pinhead lock, be sure to get them with the <a href="http://www.pinheadlocks.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=15&Itemid=60&lang=en&vmcchk=1&Itemid=60" target="_blank">free POG security washers</a>�that they started using a year ago. Without them, a thief can use Gator Grip pliers to easily remove the lock.�</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div>
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