Cover removed from bike
Discussion
Just been to the cinema so away for about 3 hours and have come back to find that my bike cover has been pulled off my new to me bike.
There are 4 other bikes in the bay in my residents car park. 2 others have covers that are undisturbed and a Honda 125 with flat tyres and a SV650 covered in cobwebs.
The weather is still and hot with no wind.
Is this the modus operandi of the bike robbers?
You’d think they’d put the cover back to stop any suspicion.
Maybe they were going to take it anyway until they saw the massive lock and chain, alarmed disc lock and possibly the other hidden disc lock.
A sleepless night awaits with a golf club by the door.
There are 4 other bikes in the bay in my residents car park. 2 others have covers that are undisturbed and a Honda 125 with flat tyres and a SV650 covered in cobwebs.
The weather is still and hot with no wind.
Is this the modus operandi of the bike robbers?
You’d think they’d put the cover back to stop any suspicion.
Maybe they were going to take it anyway until they saw the massive lock and chain, alarmed disc lock and possibly the other hidden disc lock.
A sleepless night awaits with a golf club by the door.
Still could have been the wind, even if you think there was no wind.
But I'm sorry to say it, I think you have the wrong bike in the wrong place. T-Max in Paris, no problem. 1985 bike with broken fairing, gaffa tape and scratches both sides in London, no problem. But T-Max in London, problem.
But I'm sorry to say it, I think you have the wrong bike in the wrong place. T-Max in Paris, no problem. 1985 bike with broken fairing, gaffa tape and scratches both sides in London, no problem. But T-Max in London, problem.
If it's new to you maybe just some kids having a look to see what bike it is.
Like you, I'd be concearned but in the same breath if you have to park it out on the street you have to live with the fact that there's a high chance of it being targeted.
Hopefully the security you've got on there have moved them onto something easier..
Good luck!!
Like you, I'd be concearned but in the same breath if you have to park it out on the street you have to live with the fact that there's a high chance of it being targeted.
Hopefully the security you've got on there have moved them onto something easier..
Good luck!!
There's a thread from 2016 about covers being removed or stolen that mentions the app Manything.
Have just set that up on my iPad which is now in my window overlooking the bike parking.
I can access it with my phone in order to see a live feed and it records any motion.
Tested by it spotting residents late back from pub.
Works really well. Just a shame it wasn't set up this evening as then I'd know for sure how the cover got moved.
Certainly wasn't a freak bit of wind as it's an effort when I remove it in the morning.
Have just set that up on my iPad which is now in my window overlooking the bike parking.
I can access it with my phone in order to see a live feed and it records any motion.
Tested by it spotting residents late back from pub.
Works really well. Just a shame it wasn't set up this evening as then I'd know for sure how the cover got moved.
Certainly wasn't a freak bit of wind as it's an effort when I remove it in the morning.
You've had a Vespa stolen not long after moving to london so you buy a T Max and leave it outside while still living in London.
I'm sorry but you're either a "Tim Nice But Dim" sort of fella or have had your head in the sand for the last few years regarding bike theft.
I wonder what sort of bike the low life of London use to commit crimes? Yeah, One of them. I know I'll buy one because i'm a nice hard working decent chap and the low life couldn't possibly steal a bike from me twice.
I mean come on!
I'm sorry but you're either a "Tim Nice But Dim" sort of fella or have had your head in the sand for the last few years regarding bike theft.
I wonder what sort of bike the low life of London use to commit crimes? Yeah, One of them. I know I'll buy one because i'm a nice hard working decent chap and the low life couldn't possibly steal a bike from me twice.
I mean come on!
Biker's Nemesis said:
You've had a Vespa stolen not long after moving to london so you buy a T Max and leave it outside while still living in London.
I'm sorry but you're either a "Tim Nice But Dim" sort of fella or have had your head in the sand for the last few years regarding bike theft.
I wonder what sort of bike the low life of London use to commit crimes? Yeah, One of them. I know I'll buy one because i'm a nice hard working decent chap and the low life couldn't possibly steal a bike from me twice.
I mean come on!
Steady on fella. Vespa was stolen in deepest Surrey. I'm sorry but you're either a "Tim Nice But Dim" sort of fella or have had your head in the sand for the last few years regarding bike theft.
I wonder what sort of bike the low life of London use to commit crimes? Yeah, One of them. I know I'll buy one because i'm a nice hard working decent chap and the low life couldn't possibly steal a bike from me twice.
I mean come on!
Plus the TMAX is in a locked car park.
Not nice but dim but just went a bit nutz with being dictated to by low lifes.
Stupid I know and hence my earlier post about getting rid.
Edited by croyde on Sunday 15th July 11:48
croyde said:
There's a thread from 2016 about covers being removed or stolen that mentions the app Manything.
Have just set that up on my iPad which is now in my window overlooking the bike parking.
I can access it with my phone in order to see a live feed and it records any motion.
Tested by it spotting residents late back from pub.
Works really well. Just a shame it wasn't set up this evening as then I'd know for sure how the cover got moved.
Certainly wasn't a freak bit of wind as it's an effort when I remove it in the morning.
What a way to live!Have just set that up on my iPad which is now in my window overlooking the bike parking.
I can access it with my phone in order to see a live feed and it records any motion.
Tested by it spotting residents late back from pub.
Works really well. Just a shame it wasn't set up this evening as then I'd know for sure how the cover got moved.
Certainly wasn't a freak bit of wind as it's an effort when I remove it in the morning.
Dog Star said:
Killboy said:
What a way to live!
It’s unreal. Does it occur to people who live and work in London that they can get lower paid jobs elsewhere in the country, have more disposable income at the end of it and live without stress like this?
I don’t get it.
Dog Star said:
It’s unreal.
Does it occur to people who live and work in London that they can get lower paid jobs elsewhere in the country, have more disposable income at the end of it and live without stress like this?
I don’t get it.
Think about it all the time mate but I'm in my 50s and my job is pretty much London centric plus my kids live here with my ex wife and friends I've had for decades are all based here. Does it occur to people who live and work in London that they can get lower paid jobs elsewhere in the country, have more disposable income at the end of it and live without stress like this?
I don’t get it.
I did escape to the country for a couple of years but the 4 hour commute was miserable.
Despite all that I'm sorely tempted to leave again.
Dog Star said:
Killboy said:
What a way to live!
It’s unreal. Does it occur to people who live and work in London that they can get lower paid jobs elsewhere in the country, have more disposable income at the end of it and live without stress like this?
I don’t get it.
OP Can you lock your cover to the scooter? Cover I have has eyelets front and back for this.. so the physical security front and rear goes through this. Sure someone can cut the cover to remove it but they'll have to goto a bit more effort than just lifting it and it will really stand out its getting attention. I only used to secure it at the rear of the bike.. which is also chained to something solid but after I had the cover disturbed I now secure the front too and the cover locks both ends now.
I've had two crappy canvas bike covers stolen over the time I've been in london (since 2000) - hence I started locking the cover to the bike and locking it through the chain where it gets stored too.
I've had two crappy canvas bike covers stolen over the time I've been in london (since 2000) - hence I started locking the cover to the bike and locking it through the chain where it gets stored too.
G, I may have missed the post where you said you'd bought a T-Max. Not sure which part of London you're living in now but it's largely irrelevant anyway. With what happened at the weekend I think it's a given that you're going to be bike shopping again sometime soon.
My guess: someone clocked you riding the T-Max, they followed you home so they know where it is, then they've been back to check what security you have. Alternatively (as happened to me) someone who has access to the car park spotted it and told them. Had your security been lax, they'd have had it on Saturday. Now, however, they know what they need in terms of grinders, etc, they know how long it'll take to cut the locks, and they'll be back for it. Fair play if you want to have a go when they do, but remember they will be "armed" (battery grinders, claw hammers, maybe more) and they don't give a toss if they do get caught and locked up whereas you have a lot more to lose. Sad, frustrating in the extreme, but true.
And the locked car park won't make any difference. For a start they've been in already. How did they get in/who let them in? I lost my bike from a small, private, locked car park in London where the bike wasn't even visible from outside.
My guess: someone clocked you riding the T-Max, they followed you home so they know where it is, then they've been back to check what security you have. Alternatively (as happened to me) someone who has access to the car park spotted it and told them. Had your security been lax, they'd have had it on Saturday. Now, however, they know what they need in terms of grinders, etc, they know how long it'll take to cut the locks, and they'll be back for it. Fair play if you want to have a go when they do, but remember they will be "armed" (battery grinders, claw hammers, maybe more) and they don't give a toss if they do get caught and locked up whereas you have a lot more to lose. Sad, frustrating in the extreme, but true.
And the locked car park won't make any difference. For a start they've been in already. How did they get in/who let them in? I lost my bike from a small, private, locked car park in London where the bike wasn't even visible from outside.
Thanks mate.
The past 2 days there has been a breeze that I have watched, via CCTV, take the cover up and over the bike and end up in the same position as I found it on Saturday night.
Although Saturday the weather was still and hot, unless there was a sudden wind whilst we were away at the cinema.
Cover now secured and there are slits for the lock as well as a buckle for under the bike.
I know tea leafs are not blessed with much intellect, but it does strike me odd that they would lift the cover to check it out and not replace it, in order not to raise my suspicions.
It's going to be put a long long way away tomorrow, which sadly means I won't have access to it, while I decide what to get next.
Bloody feckers!!
The past 2 days there has been a breeze that I have watched, via CCTV, take the cover up and over the bike and end up in the same position as I found it on Saturday night.
Although Saturday the weather was still and hot, unless there was a sudden wind whilst we were away at the cinema.
Cover now secured and there are slits for the lock as well as a buckle for under the bike.
I know tea leafs are not blessed with much intellect, but it does strike me odd that they would lift the cover to check it out and not replace it, in order not to raise my suspicions.
It's going to be put a long long way away tomorrow, which sadly means I won't have access to it, while I decide what to get next.
Bloody feckers!!
croyde said:
I know tea leafs are not blessed with much intellect, but it does strike me odd that they would lift the cover to check it out and not replace it, in order not to raise my suspicions.
The fact you are still questioning whether or not the cover was intentionally removed shows that they're not stupid at all. It takes a few second to lift a bike cover, spending an additional 20-30 seconds of exposure to refit a cover, whilst the owner materialises, wouldn't seem the smart move to me. I really do sympathise, but given the current state of affairs, I would assume the worst and that is your bike ID'd for potential theft.
Just have a think about the golf club mate. I was just talking to a bloke on Sunday who interrupted two thieves stealing his car, and was then attacked in front of his wife. On the up side, he managed to get himself beaten with a large wrench rather than be stabbed (which potentially he would had been had he armed himself and been considered more of a threat). It sounds like his wife is having ongoing issues dealing with the experience.
I'm not the scared sort, I've told the story on here too many times, but I've caught and stopped someone stealing my car. But it was a run of the mill bag head joyrider, understand that these guys aren't the same. Whatever we may think of them, they're experienced, well tooled up and have very little to lose.
Don't underestimate how much of your life you can lose to these d
heads, sitting watching your bike on the iPad is just the start of it.Best of luck.
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