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London cyclist highlights bike thieves' latest trickBike thief

London cyclist highlights bike thieves' latest trick

If you see gaffer tape on a bike stand, check it hasn't been cut through...
by Simon_MacMichael
Fri, Feb 26, 2016 17:01
10

A London cyclist has warned fellow riders to beware of parking their bikes on bike racks that have gaffer tape on them – because thieves are using it to hide the fact that they have cut through the metalwork to make it easy for them to steal bikes.

Pictures of a Sheffield stand that had been subject to that exact treatment were posted to Twitter by Sarah King, a Labour councillor for South Camberwell in London.

She added that fellow Labaour councillor Mark Williams was in touch with Southwark council to have the stand removed.

Here’s road.cc’s bike locking tips – to which we’ve added this latest trick by would-be thieves.

> Beginner's guide to bike security—how to stop bike thieves and protect your bike

bicycle theft
bicycle thief
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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10 comments

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brooksby | 8 years ago
1 like

I can't help but wonder what the official response would be if there was this much effort being put in by *car* thieves... Probably have soldiers on the streets by now.

Do councils have some obligation to check that their bike racks are still fit for purpose? Like carrying out visual checks (like checking for road flaws &c).

Or allow you to report it online, like those council sites for reporting broken street lights.

 

Avatar
bikebot replied to brooksby | 8 years ago
0 likes
brooksby wrote:

I can't help but wonder what the official response would be if there was this much effort being put in by *car* thieves... Probably have soldiers on the streets by now.

Do councils have some obligation to check that their bike racks are still fit for purpose? Like carrying out visual checks (like checking for road flaws &c).

Or allow you to report it online, like those council sites for reporting broken street lights.

In my experience locally, they're pretty good actually. Their biggest problem with bike racks is abandoned bikes, and most London authorities will now routinely tag them if reported and then later clear them away.  Have also seen bike racks get replaced, as there's a constant attrition rate from lorries and other vehicles damaging them.

Avatar
imagesurgery replied to bikebot | 8 years ago
0 likes
bikebot wrote:

Have also seen bike racks get replaced, as there's a constant attrition rate from lorries and other vehicles damaging them.

Those are the racks that don't have enough situational awareness.

Avatar
dottigirl | 8 years ago
0 likes

If I saw a possibly-doctored stand, I would have a go at it with my D-lock and Swiss Army knife. And throw any bits which came off in the Thames.

 

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Chris | 8 years ago
4 likes

You could wrap some tape around your favourite rack to deter other people from using it.

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Judge dreadful | 8 years ago
0 likes

This is nothing new. I made the mistake of locking an (admittedly) quite cheap bike, to a 'doctored' rack, three years ago. You have to be awake all the time.

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Bob's Bikes | 8 years ago
0 likes

Rather than remove it why not just weld it back together? that's got to be cheaper and easier.

Avatar
matthewn5 replied to Bob's Bikes | 8 years ago
1 like
fatbeggaronabike wrote:

Rather than remove it why not just weld it back together? that's got to be cheaper and easier.

You can't easily weld two large straight-cut solid sections back together. For a maximum-strength joint they have to be cone shaped like this: >< so that the welder can gradually build up from the centre. Unless you have one of those plasma things they use to join rails.

Avatar
Bob's Bikes replied to matthewn5 | 8 years ago
0 likes
matthewn5 wrote:
fatbeggaronabike wrote:

Rather than remove it why not just weld it back together? that's got to be cheaper and easier.

You can't easily weld two large straight-cut solid sections back together. For a maximum-strength joint they have to be cone shaped like this: >< so that the welder can gradually build up from the centre. Unless you have one of those plasma things they use to join rails.

Thanks for that, I always thought they were made from tube like all the ones round my way and so therefore could be welded.

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to Bob's Bikes | 8 years ago
0 likes
fatbeggaronabike wrote:
matthewn5 wrote:
fatbeggaronabike wrote:

Rather than remove it why not just weld it back together? that's got to be cheaper and easier.

You can't easily weld two large straight-cut solid sections back together. For a maximum-strength joint they have to be cone shaped like this: >< so that the welder can gradually build up from the centre. Unless you have one of those plasma things they use to join rails.

Thanks for that, I always thought they were made from tube like all the ones round my way and so therefore could be welded.

I thought they were, but even with tube the same tapered weld prep needs to bd done. It is easier with less thickness. However I would expect that after cutting there will be a gap between the tubes at least the thickness of the cutting tool, or there may have been two cuts, so the lock can more easily be moved through the gap.

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