Someone Keeps trying to nick my bike - what should I do?
Discussion
Bike in question is only a Duke 390 (18MY).
Brief backstory - used to own a CBF125 and was kept in parents detached garage - about 150 ft down a garden and slightly offset. Access is via an access road covered by an 8ft tall steel gate firmly bolted into brick. Used to have an up-and-over garage door that was circa. 30 yrs old so it was getting on a bit. Garage is made of brick and has a proper roof etc.
1st time) February 2017 the CBF was stolen from the garage - not locked (didn't see the point as thought it was secure enough). The thieves couldn't hotwire the bike and managed to get it to a local park (50m from the house?) when a PCSO stumbled along two lads with a bike on its side trying to take off fairings etc. Fled the scene and left the bike (along with my helmet) to be recovered. £150 of impound fees and a service later (to re-solder the ignition wire) and an MOT as it was required. They apparently managed to pull it through a fence panel that they'd kicked down and then through a neighbours garden (that backs onto the access road).
2nd time) Go to April 2017 (I think it was easter monday) and my dad rings me to tell me that they'd actually gotten it again this time, seemingly via the same route. Except this time they bolt cropped my chain that I locked it up with. No obvious damage to the door. A week later and police recovered it from a local garage (pro-active policing, eh?) along with 3 other stolen bikes. In this time it had been used to nick other bikes and obviously dropped and god knows what else. Again the police couldn't prosecute (god knows why), and I ended up spending the better part of a grand repairing it and also recovering it.
3rd time) Go to July this year and I have recently bought a Duke 390 and chopped in the CBF. No issues since 2nd instance of break in. Again I had bought a disk lock and kept it on this with no chain. Garage was more secure with a poachers alarm and also locked with a staple lock on both sides. This didn't stop them and our 30 year old garage door, and frame was ripped from the brick and pried open. Luckily the most they could do was get in and have a look as they couldn't get the bike out of the gap they'd made.
4th time) So here I am - in October and this morning I went down the back alley to see a fence kicked in along the back. Since 3rd time we have had a sectional garage door put in and ground anchors, Almax chains, motion sensor alarms etc. My only explanation for the fence being kicked in would be that they wanted to come back for the bike again (no other garages have bikes in them along the back and are mostly dilapidated).
So about 4/5 grand, 5 helmets, one pair of bike gloves, 200 piece socket set and a road bike out of pocket, 3 attempted thefts and one mooch I still can't manage to keep them away. I am going to put up a floodlight this weekend but what else can I do besides booby-trap the place? I am hoping that this last time has deterred them completely however I just don't know any more.
Also worth noting that my dad's bike is in the garage though, but as it is a cruiser style they hadn't even looked at it. Can tell as the sheet that was over it to prevent dust hadn't even moved.
What do I do? Sorry for long post I'm just a bit annoyed really!
Brief backstory - used to own a CBF125 and was kept in parents detached garage - about 150 ft down a garden and slightly offset. Access is via an access road covered by an 8ft tall steel gate firmly bolted into brick. Used to have an up-and-over garage door that was circa. 30 yrs old so it was getting on a bit. Garage is made of brick and has a proper roof etc.
1st time) February 2017 the CBF was stolen from the garage - not locked (didn't see the point as thought it was secure enough). The thieves couldn't hotwire the bike and managed to get it to a local park (50m from the house?) when a PCSO stumbled along two lads with a bike on its side trying to take off fairings etc. Fled the scene and left the bike (along with my helmet) to be recovered. £150 of impound fees and a service later (to re-solder the ignition wire) and an MOT as it was required. They apparently managed to pull it through a fence panel that they'd kicked down and then through a neighbours garden (that backs onto the access road).
2nd time) Go to April 2017 (I think it was easter monday) and my dad rings me to tell me that they'd actually gotten it again this time, seemingly via the same route. Except this time they bolt cropped my chain that I locked it up with. No obvious damage to the door. A week later and police recovered it from a local garage (pro-active policing, eh?) along with 3 other stolen bikes. In this time it had been used to nick other bikes and obviously dropped and god knows what else. Again the police couldn't prosecute (god knows why), and I ended up spending the better part of a grand repairing it and also recovering it.
3rd time) Go to July this year and I have recently bought a Duke 390 and chopped in the CBF. No issues since 2nd instance of break in. Again I had bought a disk lock and kept it on this with no chain. Garage was more secure with a poachers alarm and also locked with a staple lock on both sides. This didn't stop them and our 30 year old garage door, and frame was ripped from the brick and pried open. Luckily the most they could do was get in and have a look as they couldn't get the bike out of the gap they'd made.
4th time) So here I am - in October and this morning I went down the back alley to see a fence kicked in along the back. Since 3rd time we have had a sectional garage door put in and ground anchors, Almax chains, motion sensor alarms etc. My only explanation for the fence being kicked in would be that they wanted to come back for the bike again (no other garages have bikes in them along the back and are mostly dilapidated).
So about 4/5 grand, 5 helmets, one pair of bike gloves, 200 piece socket set and a road bike out of pocket, 3 attempted thefts and one mooch I still can't manage to keep them away. I am going to put up a floodlight this weekend but what else can I do besides booby-trap the place? I am hoping that this last time has deterred them completely however I just don't know any more.
Also worth noting that my dad's bike is in the garage though, but as it is a cruiser style they hadn't even looked at it. Can tell as the sheet that was over it to prevent dust hadn't even moved.
What do I do? Sorry for long post I'm just a bit annoyed really!
seriously I would be fuming.
Sounds like you're doing all the right things - ground anchors etc
Discs lock on front disc, back disc
You mentioned motion sensor alarms - I have a Canary in my garage - so it rings my phone and you can video the little f
kers.
Not that the video will help - just make sure it isn't saved to the cloud so when you turn up with your on standby mates and some baseball bats there is no evidence of the lesson you teach them?
Sounds like you're doing all the right things - ground anchors etc
Discs lock on front disc, back disc
You mentioned motion sensor alarms - I have a Canary in my garage - so it rings my phone and you can video the little f
kers.Not that the video will help - just make sure it isn't saved to the cloud so when you turn up with your on standby mates and some baseball bats there is no evidence of the lesson you teach them?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEaQFmVth7o
But filled with Acid.
i'm Joking of course......
Seriously though, sounds like you have done everything you can. They clearly have your bike marked as an easy steal, maybe (fingers crossed) after the last 'mooch' they realise it isnt an easy steal anymore and will leave you alone
But filled with Acid.
i'm Joking of course......
Seriously though, sounds like you have done everything you can. They clearly have your bike marked as an easy steal, maybe (fingers crossed) after the last 'mooch' they realise it isnt an easy steal anymore and will leave you alone
Get a camera that sends you an alert on your phone in case it detects movement. I use this in front of my garage...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nest-Cam-Outdoor-security-camera/dp/B01MG7M0XR/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1539869325&sr=1-3&keywords=nest+camera
It is motion sensitive and has an IR mode for use in the night but needs wifi and in case your garage does not have wifi I would just get a 4g dongle and place it in the garage and hook it up to that. It also needs to be positioned strategically to avoid false alerts but this is simple enough to do.
If I was in your place I would be absolutely *fuming* by now and pretty much ready with a sledge hammer and a chainsaw.
Last but not least please put a tracker on your motorbike. If the scumbags move it more than a few inches you will get an alert.
Such stty situation to be in 
Also worth adding that the Nest camera has a mic and can pick up sounds of people and will send you a screenshot on your phone in case it heard or saw someone. I find this feature to be extremely useful as i can quickly see the live stream to see what's going on.
Finally perhaps configure your phone to give a specific alert tone when it gets an alert from Nest or the bike tracker to differentiate it from white noise alerts.
It is motion sensitive and has an IR mode for use in the night but needs wifi and in case your garage does not have wifi I would just get a 4g dongle and place it in the garage and hook it up to that. It also needs to be positioned strategically to avoid false alerts but this is simple enough to do.
If I was in your place I would be absolutely *fuming* by now and pretty much ready with a sledge hammer and a chainsaw.
Last but not least please put a tracker on your motorbike. If the scumbags move it more than a few inches you will get an alert.
Such s
tty situation to be in Also worth adding that the Nest camera has a mic and can pick up sounds of people and will send you a screenshot on your phone in case it heard or saw someone. I find this feature to be extremely useful as i can quickly see the live stream to see what's going on.
Finally perhaps configure your phone to give a specific alert tone when it gets an alert from Nest or the bike tracker to differentiate it from white noise alerts.
Edited by TheCommuter on Thursday 18th October 14:47
The Selfish Gene said:
seriously I would be fuming.
Sounds like you're doing all the right things - ground anchors etc
Discs lock on front disc, back disc
You mentioned motion sensor alarms - I have a Canary in my garage - so it rings my phone and you can video the little fkers.
Not that the video will help - just make sure it isn't saved to the cloud so when you turn up with your on standby mates and some baseball bats there is no evidence of the lesson you teach them?
Yeah we were thinking of getting a Ring doorbell however unfortunately these run off WiFi and our garage is fairly far away. I don't want to have to piss about with powerline signal boosters etc. I have the Almax chain (Series 2) with Squire lock and the Defiant ground anchor that has been chemically bonded into the floor, and has internal roller bearings etc.Sounds like you're doing all the right things - ground anchors etc
Discs lock on front disc, back disc
You mentioned motion sensor alarms - I have a Canary in my garage - so it rings my phone and you can video the little f
kers.Not that the video will help - just make sure it isn't saved to the cloud so when you turn up with your on standby mates and some baseball bats there is no evidence of the lesson you teach them?
We obviously have some good friends that are happy to help where they can but we simply don't hear them due to the distance. At least now it would take literally an angle grinder to get into the garage which would hopefully wake someone up
AceOfHearts said:
Move house?
Strategically glued razor blades hidden around the bike?
CCTV?
Haha funny you should say that as we did put a bird scare trap thing (blank shotgun shell in a spring linked to a tripwire) along the floor once. They noticed it and just cut the tripwire. I joked about substituting it with a live cartridge but guess this would be quite illegal. We are looking into CCTV but for a decent DVR setup (see previous about WiFI) we are looking @ ~£500 for the cameras and box and stuff.Strategically glued razor blades hidden around the bike?
CCTV?
Christmassss said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEaQFmVth7o
But filled with Acid.
i'm Joking of course......
Seriously though, sounds like you have done everything you can. They clearly have your bike marked as an easy steal, maybe (fingers crossed) after the last 'mooch' they realise it isnt an easy steal anymore and will leave you alone
Haha as much as I like that idea I think it could be illegal again. Its difficult to stay on the right side of the law to protect your property. It's only a Duke 390 as well... Granted it's a nice bike (for me) but damn I see fireblades being ridden around all the time in my area along with Z1000s etc. etc. that are all way above the £10k mark.But filled with Acid.
i'm Joking of course......
Seriously though, sounds like you have done everything you can. They clearly have your bike marked as an easy steal, maybe (fingers crossed) after the last 'mooch' they realise it isnt an easy steal anymore and will leave you alone
TheCommuter said:
Get a camera that sends you an alert on your phone in case it detects movement. I use this in front of my garage...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nest-Cam-Outdoor-security-camera/dp/B01MG7M0XR/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1539869325&sr=1-3&keywords=nest+camera
It is motion sensitive and has an IR mode for use in the night but needs wifi and in case your garage does not have wifi I would just get a 4g dongle and place it in the garage and hook it up to that. It also needs to be positioned strategically to avoid false alerts but this is simple enough to do.
If I was in your place I would be absolutely *fuming* by now and pretty much ready with a sledge hammer and a chainsaw.
Last but not least please put a tracker on your motorbike. If the scumbags move it more than a few inches you will get an alert.
Such stty situation to be in
Also worth adding that the Nest camera has a mic and can pick up sounds of people and will send you a screenshot on your phone in case it heard or saw someone. I find this feature to be extremely useful as i can quickly see the live stream to see what's going on.
Finally perhaps configure your phone to give a specific alert tone when it gets an alert from Nest or the bike tracker to differentiate it from white noise alerts.
Yeah I (and my parents) are pretty fuming. I'm even more annoyed because I don't actually live with my parents any more. Also we're nowhere near London which I know isn't an excuse but crime around here isn't normally this rife.It is motion sensitive and has an IR mode for use in the night but needs wifi and in case your garage does not have wifi I would just get a 4g dongle and place it in the garage and hook it up to that. It also needs to be positioned strategically to avoid false alerts but this is simple enough to do.
If I was in your place I would be absolutely *fuming* by now and pretty much ready with a sledge hammer and a chainsaw.
Last but not least please put a tracker on your motorbike. If the scumbags move it more than a few inches you will get an alert.
Such s
tty situation to be in Also worth adding that the Nest camera has a mic and can pick up sounds of people and will send you a screenshot on your phone in case it heard or saw someone. I find this feature to be extremely useful as i can quickly see the live stream to see what's going on.
Finally perhaps configure your phone to give a specific alert tone when it gets an alert from Nest or the bike tracker to differentiate it from white noise alerts.
We do have some strategically placed golf clubs and wooden batons to go with but it's just catching them which is the issue. I looked at trackers for my bike however it seems expensive for the time until I get my unrestricted licence (May 2019) so not sure if I can actually reason the £300-£500 it could cost.
The Selfish Gene said:
all fair enough - as someone that had a 8k biked nicked this year - and the nightmare I'm having trying to insure a second bike now and the increase (10%) on my cars
I would say fight to the death mate. Don't let them have it under any circumstances
I know it's really frustrating that's it's come to this though and that you seemingly can't have nice things any more unless you're on the wrong side of the law.I would say fight to the death mate. Don't let them have it under any circumstances
Trying2GoFast said:
Yeah I (and my parents) are pretty fuming. I'm even more annoyed because I don't actually live with my parents any more. Also we're nowhere near London which I know isn't an excuse but crime around here isn't normally this rife.
We do have some strategically placed golf clubs and wooden batons to go with but it's just catching them which is the issue. I looked at trackers for my bike however it seems expensive for the time until I get my unrestricted licence (May 2019) so not sure if I can actually reason the £300-£500 it could cost.
don't bother on tracker - it's a long boring story but the thieves have got wind of it.We do have some strategically placed golf clubs and wooden batons to go with but it's just catching them which is the issue. I looked at trackers for my bike however it seems expensive for the time until I get my unrestricted licence (May 2019) so not sure if I can actually reason the £300-£500 it could cost.
They just put the bike in a communal flat block. The police can't get a warrant unless they know exactly which flat - which they don't as they argue the tracker isn't accurate in a building no matter how much the tracker company argue with them.
then the police say they aren't an insurance recovery service and basically don't give a f
k.So no, not worth the tracker money mate. Unless you want to know when it is being stolen and get there very very very quickly.
I was 1 minute from mine when the tracker went off, chased it live and was at the block of flats less than ten minutes behind my bike.............
no interest from police turning up for several days - then only because we put it all over twitter with the address of the scum
Save your money
they target the duke etc as they're light, powerful and have ground clearance for offroad use.
there's not much you aren't already doing, only thing I'd suggest would be to get a very loud alarm, even something basic like this to draw attention;
https://www.ultrasecuredirect.com/wireless-indoor-...
there's not much you aren't already doing, only thing I'd suggest would be to get a very loud alarm, even something basic like this to draw attention;
https://www.ultrasecuredirect.com/wireless-indoor-...
The Selfish Gene said:
don't bother on tracker - it's a long boring story but the thieves have got wind of it.
They just put the bike in a communal flat block. The police can't get a warrant unless they know exactly which flat - which they don't as they argue the tracker isn't accurate in a building no matter how much the tracker company argue with them.
then the police say they aren't an insurance recovery service and basically don't give a fk.
So no, not worth the tracker money mate. Unless you want to know when it is being stolen and get there very very very quickly.
I was 1 minute from mine when the tracker went off, chased it live and was at the block of flats less than ten minutes behind my bike.............
no interest from police turning up for several days - then only because we put it all over twitter with the address of the scum
Save your money
Yeah I had read about this. And also they can just block signals with magnets - idea being running a powerful enough magnet around the bike should screw any tracker signal that is generated. They just put the bike in a communal flat block. The police can't get a warrant unless they know exactly which flat - which they don't as they argue the tracker isn't accurate in a building no matter how much the tracker company argue with them.
then the police say they aren't an insurance recovery service and basically don't give a f
k.So no, not worth the tracker money mate. Unless you want to know when it is being stolen and get there very very very quickly.
I was 1 minute from mine when the tracker went off, chased it live and was at the block of flats less than ten minutes behind my bike.............
no interest from police turning up for several days - then only because we put it all over twitter with the address of the scum
Save your money
It's a shame about your bike mate - the police around me are useless and do next to nothing, and have now also been demoted to reactive policing from a local police force.
Who was the guy whose bike was nicked after multiple attempts when they eventually cut the lamp post to get it? Was it Croyde? Anyway there is a long thread on here.
Sadly OP, on the balance of what you've told us, the chances are that they WILL be back, (with the right tools next time) and your only realistic chance of stopping the bike being taken is to put it somewhere else.
Sadly OP, on the balance of what you've told us, the chances are that they WILL be back, (with the right tools next time) and your only realistic chance of stopping the bike being taken is to put it somewhere else.
andburg said:
they target the duke etc as they're light, powerful and have ground clearance for offroad use.
there's not much you aren't already doing, only thing I'd suggest would be to get a very loud alarm, even something basic like this to draw attention;
https://www.ultrasecuredirect.com/wireless-indoor-...
Yeah we've put something similar to that up already except motion detector right by the side door (not the main sectional door). My only worry with these things is what stops them hitting it with a crowbar and just breaking it and the speaker?there's not much you aren't already doing, only thing I'd suggest would be to get a very loud alarm, even something basic like this to draw attention;
https://www.ultrasecuredirect.com/wireless-indoor-...
The Duke is a great bike to be fair to it (apart from the radiator fan breaking after 300 miles), but I'm just not sure whether its worth the hassle and going to something shed-like (such as a restricted 650 versys perhaps for commuting?). It's annoying that they are sought after.
CAPP0 said:
Who was the guy whose bike was nicked after multiple attempts when they eventually cut the lamp post to get it? Was it Croyde? Anyway there is a long thread on here.
Sadly OP, on the balance of what you've told us, the chances are that they WILL be back, (with the right tools next time) and your only realistic chance of stopping the bike being taken is to put it somewhere else.
That's impressive to cut through a lamp post. I've always said that if they get through what we've got now then they can take it (probably in jest but starting to mean it now).Sadly OP, on the balance of what you've told us, the chances are that they WILL be back, (with the right tools next time) and your only realistic chance of stopping the bike being taken is to put it somewhere else.
It lived in my parent's conservatory for a while - I have a good picture of it in there. It also lived in my partner's father's work for a bit whilst the garage door was being replaced.
Trying2GoFast said:
Yeah I had read about this. And also they can just block signals with magnets - idea being running a powerful enough magnet around the bike should screw any tracker signal that is generated.
It's a shame about your bike mate - the police around me are useless and do next to nothing, and have now also been demoted to reactive policing from a local police force.
thanks mate - cost me a couple of grand and now causing me issues getting something else insured in London...........but whatever I'll win, I always do.It's a shame about your bike mate - the police around me are useless and do next to nothing, and have now also been demoted to reactive policing from a local police force.
The biggest impact it had on me is losing all respect for the police. I know now I would never contact them if another bike was stolen. I would just deal with it myself.
When I was told I'd be arrested if I kicked the door in (after they couldn't be arsed to turn up for 3 days) - that was the end as far as I'm concerned.
The Selfish Gene said:
thanks mate - cost me a couple of grand and now causing me issues getting something else insured in London...........but whatever I'll win, I always do.
The biggest impact it had on me is losing all respect for the police. I know now I would never contact them if another bike was stolen. I would just deal with it myself.
When I was told I'd be arrested if I kicked the door in (after they couldn't be arsed to turn up for 3 days) - that was the end as far as I'm concerned.
Yeah I suppose luckily for me the bike was recovered on the second occasion - I did start a claim but withdrew it when it was found for the exact issue you're having now. I remember having some "polite" words with the detective inspector about why they couldn't prosecute even when my bike was found with three others in someone-who-I-didn't-know's locked garage.The biggest impact it had on me is losing all respect for the police. I know now I would never contact them if another bike was stolen. I would just deal with it myself.
When I was told I'd be arrested if I kicked the door in (after they couldn't be arsed to turn up for 3 days) - that was the end as far as I'm concerned.
I am similar to you now and have next to no respect for the police. They have recently been going around in double-decker buses trying to catch drivers on their phones rather than doing something more proactive. They only care about the crimes that get them money (see speed cameras, speed traps, FPNs etc.).
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