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What would you do? (Parking)

last year (I think, not clear on the exact time frame and too lazy to look) a guy in Concord (GiC) had his bike stolen from the apartment garage. Had multiple video shots of the thief and as I recall thief was arrested shortly after bike was stolen. Not sure about details but bike wasn't recovered and thief walked. Months later thief was arrested again on unrelated charge and bike was found. By then insurance had paid out and GiC had a new bike.

I think good insurance is your best bet.

That would be Roman and his Trumpet Scrambler. Sucks, but the cops simply have a lot of bigger fish to fry, and thieves know it.
 
Honestly I would rent a house with a garage and get some roommates if needed and that is what I've done in the past. I don't how you guys sleep at night with a bike in parking garage. If you live in SF that's one thing but if you're in Dublin you can definitely find a house or townhouse in the east bay somewhere. Probably not what you want to hear.

If that's not an option I'd look into lojack or something similar. I believe they activate if the bike gets moved without the key in proximity, I was just reading about them for classic cars.... not sure how they work on bikes.
 
Honestly, I would just go heavy on the locks and have a low comprehensive deductible... Beefy cryo treated chain through the frame and rear wheel (and your car wheel if possible), disc lock on the front/back and locking bike cover.

After that just stop worrying, if it gets stolen just pay the deductible and be done with it. No matter what, if a thief really wants it they will get your bike. Just make it a hard target and live your life.

Pretty much this, OP.

Also like the idea of removing the clutch lever. Won't stop the guy with the van, but it will cut down on joy-ride thefts.
 
Keeping in mind that everything you do except for insurance is a theft deterrent, not a theft stopper, if motorcycles are stolen or vandalized in your building parking area, then parking your bike there is no deterrent.
 
Can you park the bike in or nearer to your unit? Is there bicycle storage nearby--maybe you can park there? Ask the landlord if you can get a bicycle box--put the bike in that?
 
Can you park the bike in or nearer to your unit? Is there bicycle storage nearby--maybe you can park there? Ask the landlord if you can get a bicycle box--put the bike in that?


Wat.

Cyclepak.JPG
 
So let's say your alarm goes off and you are there. What can you really do? If you go out to confront the guys trying to steal your stuff - you might get yourself into more trouble!

Run outside and jump on the bike and start making vroom noises! No need to physically attack them if you don't want to, but just hold onto the bike. I'll bet they'll be gone. Most bike thefts occur very quickly. If by chance you're able to get out there before the bike is gone, I'd bet 9 out of 10 times the thieves will take off.

If it were me, I'd bring my phone (video on) and a gun. Then I'd simply tell them to move along.
 
Why are apartment garages so notorious for bikes getting stolen?

Ask the landlord to install a well-built cage as an added layer of protection for motor to park in. Like the bike parking in elementary school, just not chain link fencing.
 
So let's say your alarm goes off and you are there. What can you really do? If you go out to confront the guys trying to steal your stuff - you might get yourself into more trouble!

125# Rhodesian Mastiff handles my light work
65# Belgian Malinois handles the rest

you don't want to be on the teeth's end of either of these

:laughing
 
Why are apartment garages so notorious for bikes getting stolen?

Ask the landlord to install a well-built cage as an added layer of protection for motor to park in. Like the bike parking in elementary school, just not chain link fencing.
Because bike thieves and friends of bike thieves live in apartments.
 
:p You can buy a large plastic crate that you park a bicycle in that protects it from theft and the elements. I'm going with the out-of-sight-out-of-mind approach. Anyway, maybe a motorcycle fits in one. That or roll it into the living room (if that works) and just buy new carpet when he moves out.

 
I had a ZX10 with a disc lock parked in front of my car. Well, after I went to work they picked up the whole bike and threw it in a van I guess. Now I have a huge cable lock, a heavy chain, a disc lock and the ignition lock and I lock it to a huge pole and keep it covered. Just make it such a pain to steal that the thieves will look for easier prey.
 
I had a ZX10 with a disc lock parked in front of my car. Well, after I went to work they picked up the whole bike and threw it in a van I guess. Now I have a huge cable lock, a heavy chain, a disc lock and the ignition lock and I lock it to a huge pole and keep it covered. Just make it such a pain to steal that the thieves will look for easier prey.

This is basically my situation. I have it locked to the poles in the garage, have a disk lock and a cover.

I was thinking of keeping it right outside the main road by the park since there are lots of people always walking around, and I can setup a security camera and monitor while I am at work. That way I would be able to call 911 in case somebody is trying to tamper with it when I am not home. And I would also hear my alarm as soon as anybody messes with it since its outside my window.
 
I know people say put it in a high traffic area but I don't know how much that would help. Most people are either not paying attention or don't care and wouldn't say or do shit. People's topcases and whole bikes have been stolen while parked downtown.
 
^Agreed. You're likely better off to pummel your bike with various locks in different and strategic spots, keep it blocked in the garage in front of your car and get good comprehensive insurance.
 
I already have a scorpio i-900. It has a perimeter sensor that can sense when someone is within few feet of the bike (adjustable). And an FM remote with up to one mile range to notify you.

I got as a gift a second i-900, brand new. For your parking situation it would be prefect. Let me know if interested.
 
That way I would be able to call 911 in case somebody is trying to tamper with it when I am not home.

If you think anyone will send out a unit for this, you're severely wrong. Just make sure the video is saved to the cloud for later. But unless someone's life is in immediate danger, a cop won't be rolling up because someone's tampering with your bike.

Next time you're in the garage, stand there for 10 minutes. 10 full minutes. You'd be surprised at how long you can go before the next car comes in.
 
Monofilament fishing line from your bike (handlebars?) through your bedroom window, attached to a loud wind-chime.
Keep a little league spec aluminum baseball bat handy and some slip on sneakers next to your front door.

You know the rest.
 
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I'd park it near the car personally. I would consider using the car to box it in.

You've already got the insurance which really is number one. It works when everything else fails.

I would get the biggest baddest chain / cable I could find. Something that you can get through a secure spot on the bike (frame, wheel, axle, triple) and some kind of anchor. Anchoring the bike is key, as is making sure they can't just quickly unbolt the part the chain is through.

Master lock on the chain. I've never heard this suggested, but I think trying to cut a lock on a bikes chain would be difficult, and it would make it really dangerous to ride away.

Disable the bike. Disconnect the battery, a second hidden kill switch, remove a lever. Heck, pulling the right fuse in a lot of newer bikes disables them.

Fake (or real) security camera. Solar powered, motion activated night light.

Alarm / immobilizer. They make after market ones, and there are some factory units available.

Maybe a cover.

If you can use the car to make it harder to work on the bike / locks without creating a hidden work area, use the car as a blocking device.

And cross you fingers.
 
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