Managed to lose the (only) key for my cable-type bike lock today while the bike was locked outside some local shops. Had to go into Homebase and buy a junior hacksaw to cut the thing apart. Took me fifteen minutes and two blades, plus a good deal of grunting and sweating.
Interestingly, although the retail park was fairly busy at the time, my efforts to steal my own bike didn't attract a single comment or even a passing glance. On reflection though, the lycra shorts and bright yellow jersey may have distinguished me as a dozy cyclist, rather than an inefficient thief!
Managed to lose the (only) key for my cable-type bike lock today while the bike was locked outside some local shops. Had to go into Homebase and buy a junior hacksaw to cut the thing apart. Took me fifteen minutes and two blades, plus a good deal of grunting and sweating. Interestingly, although the retail park was fairly busy at the time, my efforts to steal my own bike didn't attract a single comment or even a passing glance. On reflection though, the lycra shorts and bright yellow jersey may have distinguished me as a dozy cyclist, rather than an inefficient thief!
More likely that it was quite obvious what you were doing, any bike thief would have bolt croppers and a van waiting to whisk it away - I've seen them in action at a rail station, 1 bloke parks up the van, the other goes looking round to see which are worth nicking, when they spot one, the driver reverses as close as poss, the doors are opened, and within 10 seconds the chain is cut, and bike thrown in the back of the van. Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
Interestingly, although the retail park was fairly busy at the time, my efforts to steal my own bike didn't attract a single comment or even a passing glance. On reflection though, the lycra shorts and bright yellow jersey may have distinguished me as a dozy cyclist, rather than an inefficient thief!
I've heard quite a few stories from both cyclists and motorcyclists having to saw off their own locks, never did I hear of anyone being noticed, questioned let alone challenged, sometimes not even by passing police. I fear that virtually no-one gives a monkey.
I'd bet that you could walk into a busy shopping street with bolt cutters in plain view, bust a lock on a bike and walk off with it without so much as a comment or a phone call to the cops from the public.
Managed to lose the (only) key for my cable-type bike lock today while the bike was locked outside some local shops. Had to go into Homebase and buy a junior hacksaw to cut the thing apart. Took me fifteen minutes and two blades, plus a good deal of grunting and sweating. Interestingly, although the retail park was fairly busy at the time, my efforts to steal my own bike didn't attract a single comment or even a passing glance. On reflection though, the lycra shorts and bright yellow jersey may have distinguished me as a dozy cyclist, rather than an inefficient thief!
More likely that it was quite obvious what you were doing, any bike thief would have bolt croppers and a van waiting to whisk it away - I've seen them in action at a rail station, 1 bloke parks up the van, the other goes looking round to see which are worth nicking, when they spot one, the driver reverses as close as poss, the doors are opened, and within 10 seconds the chain is cut, and bike thrown in the back of the van.
No doubt, but semi-decent locks don't really succumb to bolt cutters.
Angle grinders work pretty well tho'. Although even then it can take signicantly more that 10 seconds.
I've heard quite a few stories from both cyclists and motorcyclists having to saw off their own locks, never did I hear of anyone being noticed, questioned let alone challenged, sometimes not even by passing police. I fear that virtually no-one gives a monkey.
Cycling through London last week I realised after I passed that a guy was sat on a parked motorbike fiddling with two pins in the ignition lock. By the time I realised what I had seen I was already quite a bit further down a one way street. I did think about whether I should get off and walk back to challenge him (but he would at best only have moved off to do another one) or find and alert a policeman (but when did you last see one on the streets). So in the end I felt guilty but carried on.
In news:[email hidden], Paul Rudin <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:
Quoted message said:
alan@darkroom.+.com (A.Lee) said:
Brian G said:
Managed to lose the (only) key for my cable-type bike lock today while the bike was locked outside some local shops. Had to go into Homebase and buy a junior hacksaw to cut the thing apart. Took me fifteen minutes and two blades, plus a good deal of grunting and sweating. Interestingly, although the retail park was fairly busy at the time, my efforts to steal my own bike didn't attract a single comment or even a passing glance. On reflection though, the lycra shorts and bright yellow jersey may have distinguished me as a dozy cyclist, rather than an inefficient thief!
More likely that it was quite obvious what you were doing, any bike thief would have bolt croppers and a van waiting to whisk it away - I've seen them in action at a rail station, 1 bloke parks up the van, the other goes looking round to see which are worth nicking, when they spot one, the driver reverses as close as poss, the doors are opened, and within 10 seconds the chain is cut, and bike thrown in the back of the van.
No doubt, but semi-decent locks don't really succumb to bolt cutters.
Halfrauds own-brand U-lock will succumb of a hammer.
Managed to lose the (only) key for my cable-type bike lock today while the bike was locked outside some local shops. Had to go into Homebase and buy a junior hacksaw to cut the thing apart.
Interestingly, although the retail park was fairly busy at the time, my efforts to steal my own bike didn't attract a single comment or even a passing glance. On reflection though, the lycra shorts and bright yellow jersey may have distinguished me as a dozy cyclist, rather than an inefficient thief!
I've heard quite a few stories from both cyclists and motorcyclists having to saw off their own locks, never did I hear of anyone being noticed, questioned let alone challenged, sometimes not even by passing police. I fear that virtually no-one gives a monkey.
I'd bet that you could walk into a busy shopping street with bolt cutters in plain view, bust a lock on a bike and walk off with it without so much as a comment or a phone call to the cops from the public.
Have you ever seen those TV shows where CCTV footage shows a man walk into a store with one of those trolleys, put a washing machine, tv, etc. on it and wheel it out the store?
It's in full view of everyone including staff at the shop and it's hours before anyone realises it's been stolen as they just assume the guy is on legit business.
Managed to lose the (only) key for my cable-type bike lock today while the bike was locked outside some local shops. Had to go into Homebase and buy a junior hacksaw to cut the thing apart.
Did you cut the lock or the cable?
The cable. One of those plastic-covered braided cables about 1 cm thick.
Interestingly, although the retail park was fairly busy at the time, my efforts to steal my own bike didn't attract a single comment or even a passing glance. On reflection though, the lycra shorts and bright yellow jersey may have distinguished me as a dozy cyclist, rather than an inefficient thief!
Quoted message said:
I've heard quite a few stories from both cyclists and motorcyclists having to saw off their own locks, never did I hear of anyone being noticed, questioned let alone challenged, sometimes not even by passing police. I fear that virtually no-one gives a monkey.
Quoted message said:
I'd bet that you could walk into a busy shopping street with bolt cutters in plain view, bust a lock on a bike and walk off with it without so much as a comment or a phone call to the cops from the public.
Even better than that, once when I locked myself out of my house I was able to recruit a passing big bloke to help me kick the door in.
-- Chris Malcolm [email hidden] DoD #205 IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK [http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]
I've heard quite a few stories from both cyclists and motorcyclists having to saw off their own locks, never did I hear of anyone being noticed, questioned let alone challenged, sometimes not even by passing police. I fear that virtually no-one gives a monkey.
Quoted message said:
Cycling through London last week I realised after I passed that a guy was sat on a parked motorbike fiddling with two pins in the ignition lock. By the time I realised what I had seen I was already quite a bit further down a one way street. I did think about whether I should get off and walk back to challenge him (but he would at best only have moved off to do another one) or find and alert a policeman (but when did you last see one on the streets). So in the end I felt guilty but carried on.
Motorcycle ignition locks are so easily defeated by a variety of methods that nobody relies on them for theftproofing, there's always another bigger and better lock somewhere. So he was probably the owner.
Hands up those who have an easily accessible spare ignition key for their vehicle! :-)
-- Chris Malcolm [email hidden] DoD #205 IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK [http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]
Hands up those who have an easily accessible spare ignition key for their vehicle! :-)
If I knew where it was I'd know whether it was accessible. And the lost one is the "master" needed to reprogram a new one for the immobiliser, so my options are find it, pay for a new immobiliser with new lock and new keys, or hope I don't lose this one....
