Also why Cable Locks Often Fail and the possible solutions for it.
I have always known the importance of security of a bike, but had to learn the hard way on more then one occasion;
“There was a time not so long ago I did not think about it as such a high priority, bike security until I myself had to experience the loss. Looking back my bike was not truly secure as was assumed. A simple lock and chain less then the recommended thickness in a location expected to be secure and the bike not all that expensive though modified to my preference. It only took a moment … the camera I expected to be watching the bike … is blocked by a service vehicle and as I watched the tape moments only out walks the thief and my bike. I must say walking was not a preference of mine.” via http://su.pr/1JCw7k
Making mistakes is often the best teacher, and to have some stories you can laugh about, when an idiot tries to be slick and steal a bike. Particularly if this same idiot is completely oblivious to the most apparent deterrents. Things such as a camera, another person who is working on the carts just outside and in broad daylight to boot.
Yet he figured he was slick, so he hangs out by the bike for awhile first, a basic single speed beach cruiser, then pulls it just hard enough to break the cable lock, which must of been a very weak cable as he was able to take the bike off the rack and start riding it towards Safeway (www.safeway.com) which is about five minutes from Target (www.target.com) across one intersection. He was so slick in fact while my brother sat there and watched him he had tried to hid the bike in the bushes, change his shirt and walk casually away except for the fact everything he did was first witnessed by the camera, second by my brother but he was slick change his shirt to make it seem like he is someone else.
To bad the case was already made, the witness found and talked to and the camera video verified all pointing back to this “slick” thief with his long beard and hair. Not to mention the security were right on it, so needless to say he didn’t get far before he was in handcuffs and on his way to the clink to try and tell his story walking.
Short but sweet, this serves as a reminder that often to many people who are perhaps casual riders, don’t realize that no matter the bike or the design, there is always people who are out to get what they can. And those cable locks that tout security, only to give the person who spends the money a false sense of security. They are not even close to what could be considered a deterrent, better to take the time and invest the money in a solid U-Lock and learn the proper technique of securing your bicycle. Otherwise this cable lock that lulled you into pulling the card out of your wallet to purchase it will also prove to be the only reason that your bike became an easy target for a thief with bolt cutters.
Well done!
There are criminals, crooks and cheaters, but bike thieves are the worst of this ilk. Ruthless criminals with no sense of humanity.
Yes it is a sad story when you have idiots about, so really it is matter of a personal choice, if you want to keep your bike ~ or let some other person take it.
Because by choosing to use a lock, such as a cable lock, you are sending an open invitation for anyone who can get a pair of boltcutters, to go ahead and take it off your hands. While if you truly want to keep the bike then you would burn that invitation up, get a u-lock and secure that as soundly as you can. In fact even Ken Kifer (may he rest in peace) offered this insight;
via Ken Kifer Tricks
Yet to many go ahead and get the lock at Target and buy something because it is cheap. Not taking the time to get a ulock besides in order to make doubly sure that when they come out of the store their bike will still be there. Purchasing a cable lock is only half the battle, really if a person makes the quality decision to bicycle commute with it’s added benefits;
via Ken Kifer on Bike Commuting
There will always be people of the shifty sort who will make attempts, to duplicate what idiots have done before and stealing a bike, the thing that we the cyclists, the people of this world can do is to take the steps to secure it, to make it less inviting so that we keep riding.
More On Bicycling Security Can Be Found;
via Ray Marr @ Helium