Bike theft issues in London

[ajroberts]

For the 2nd time in 10 months my bike has been stolen in London.

The first was in Canary wharf at 14:30 in march of a cbr600rr '07. The second yesterday out side st Thomas's a&e department of a triumph speed triple '15. Both had disc locks on that were smashed off.

My question is it worth having a bike in London anymore ? I'm loosing so much money to higher premiums and excess and replacing all things I need when it goes Mia. I've been riding in London to and from work in different places for about 4 years.

Yes I know I had nice bikes before anyone says but I do quite like having them but this 2nd theft has put me off owning anymore.


Aj

[kiethton]

I've been riding in myself for the past 3.5 years....always had a cosmetically fked banger for this reason, only had the bike nicked once (attempted a 2 further times but the almax stopped them) and each of those attempts were from home

[Lee540]

My ZX10R was stolen in London with just a disc lock, my replacement bike has 2 disc locks, almax chain to a post and a tracker.

Got to protect your bike better.. make it difficult for them.

[supercommuter]

Can you state the area you guys are in?

[jrich123]

OP sorry to hear about your theft, thieving w*nkers the lots of 'em.

What time of day was the theft outside St Thomas's? I guess that area is covered by CCTV?

[ajroberts]

I have found out that the bike was stolen between the hours of 12:30 and 15:30. Someone I am working with went to look for a place to park his bike and saw mine there and not at those times. (Yesterday he didn't realise it was my bike)

[Lee540]

supercommuter said:

Can you state the area you guys are in?

Mine was stolen from Wimbledon, nr. Haydons Road Station.

[kiethton]

My successful theft was from St Mary Cray, locked up outside my old flat, chopped the Oxford chain I had at the time - found in the graveyard near Shire Lane after a day of joyriding.....

Attempts:

St Mary Cray again - couldn't get through the Almax
Lee Green - Snapped the ignition lock, couldn't get through the Almax

[supercommuter]

Sorry to hear that by the way.

Reason I ask is that my bike spends 3 days a week on the road in the west end and has done for the last year. Just a matter of time before it gets lifted i suppose!

[ajroberts]

I live in Bromley South London.

I was stopped by police whilst working on my cars telling me to install CCTV at home to deter thieves.

I have found so far this-

Alarm is pointless - no one cares.

Disc lock is a small issue but smashed through.

Steering lock is pointless.

Almax chain and other deterrents.

Tracker - will be purchased, 1 cheap "easily findable" 1 expensive highly hidden thats better.

[jrich123]

I think the Almax is the common denominator here.

Makes me realise I need to up my security from my Arbus lock.

I think for us in London its when rather than if for an attempted or successful theft. Sad times but as previous poster said security needs to be upped to deter these crotes.

[BuzzBravado]

Lee540 said:

My ZX10R was stolen in London with just a disc lock, my replacement bike has 2 disc locks, almax chain to a post and a tracker.

Got to protect your bike better.. make it difficult for them.

All you have done is added 15 seconds to their grinding time. No one steps in and the police are nowhere in sight so whats an extra 15 seconds to them? They dont know about the tracker so its not a deterrent.

[Lee540]

BuzzBravado said:

Lee540 said:

My ZX10R was stolen in London with just a disc lock, my replacement bike has 2 disc locks, almax chain to a post and a tracker.

Got to protect your bike better.. make it difficult for them.

All you have done is added 15 seconds to their grinding time. No one steps in and the police are nowhere in sight so whats an extra 15 seconds to them? They dont know about the tracker so its not a deterrent.

Yes, I know.. sad isn't it..

People do step in though sometimes, I have done in East London... problem is that when someone sees it happening, the first thing they want to do is get their phone out and record it.

Edit: I love bikes more than my job/where I live.. so I moved out of London and outside of the M25 shortly after that theft

Edited by Lee540 on Tuesday 23 January 11:00

[Richyboy]

My insurance went up nearly £200, never made a claim and I’m on the outskirts of London. I wouldn’t even dream of leaving it in London unless I had secure parking.

[ajroberts]

Mine has gone from £240 for the CBR 600 --> £1150 for the triumph (meant to be £500 without a claim) then a quick search today has yielded a premium of £2500. Its hardly worth me riding a bike now.

[dibblecorse]

Proper crap news mate, I've made it a rule that if riding into London it only goes in NCP style car parks and chained up, not 100 secure but hopefully being a little out the way means its a little safer ....

[crusty]

The thing I don't understand is how these people are not getting caught.

If is almost a given that if you don't secure your bike properly, it will be stolen, how come the police cannot catch the thieves.

Surely this should be like shooting fish in a barrel?

[dibblecorse]

crusty said:

The thing I don't understand is how these people are not getting caught.

If is almost a given that if you don't secure your bike properly, it will be stolen, how come the police cannot catch the thieves.

Surely this should be like shooting fish in a barrel?

They have usually been and gone in minutes, often using mopeds with no plates, riding without helmets so Police won't give chase, Joe Public doesn't want to get involved as they often brandish hammers and acid, these are the same scrotes I suspect that are turning over jewellers across London ....

[crusty]

dibblecorse said:

crusty said:

The thing I don't understand is how these people are not getting caught.

If is almost a given that if you don't secure your bike properly, it will be stolen, how come the police cannot catch the thieves.

Surely this should be like shooting fish in a barrel?

They have usually been and gone in minutes, often using mopeds with no plates, riding without helmets so Police won't give chase, Joe Public doesn't want to get involved as they often brandish hammers and acid, these are the same scrotes I suspect that are turning over jewellers across London ....

Surely that should make it easier?

!. Park a few bikes at popular thief locations
2. Wait for moped gang - easily identified as no plates or helmets
3. Arrest them

[creampuff]

jrich123 said:

I think the Almax is the common denominator here.

Makes me realise I need to up my security from my Arbus lock.

I think for us in London its when rather than if for an attempted or successful theft. Sad times but as previous poster said security needs to be upped to deter these crotes.

Almax is better, but there have been plenty of threads where a bike with an Almax or Pragmasis chain on it has still been stolen.

I haven't used a bike in Central London for several years. Risk of theft, 20mph zones, CCTV everywhere make it totally un-fun.