Homeless in Vancouver: Bike thefts rise; is quality of locks falling?

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      This weekend's front-page story in the Vancouver Sun is about how bike theft is one of the few crimes on the rise in Vancouver.

      This suggests at least two things to me: most bike locks are a joke to most bike thieves, and there’s a big demand for bicycles somewhere.

      Maybe the thieves are selling the bikes they steal back to the people they’re taking them from. But that doesn’t explain why bikes seem so easy to steal.

      How not to buy a bike lock

      People choose on the basis of what’s available. That means they purchase many durable goods on the basis of price, colour, and style—selecting a bike lock that way is like letting a bike thief choose for you.

      I’ve been told most bike shops choose their stock from the same handful of supplier catalogues, and I can believe it. They seem to be flooded with largely the same selection of good-looking, inexpensive, poor-quality locks.

      I think some kinds of locks should be avoided: U-locks under $70, and every plain cable lock, no matter how thick—even the ones in designer colours!

      Unfortunately, expensive ones can be just as bad. Kryptonite locks run to very expensive, but I don’t trust them anymore. Their U-locks used to be the gold standard, but having your bike-lock company purchased by a U.S. defence contractor rarely improves the quality of your product. Still many people rate their top-end locks very highly.

      I had a bike stolen in 2004, along with the brand-new, redesigned— proof-against-Bic-pens—top-of-the-line, Kryptonite U-lock. Two years later I watched a Fairview resident struggle to open his new, expensive Kryptonite U-lock securing his new, expensive bicycle. The lock was stuck.

      I suggested he tap the barrel a few times in case some grit was blocking the mechanism. He did and the poor guy’s Kryptonite U-lock fell to bits.

      All that’s left of one of the “best” padlocks money could buy.
      Stanley Q. Woodvine
      I’m not just thinking of Kryptonite. In 2011 I saved up and bought a high-security padlock, made for outdoor use, stainless -teel clad, dimple keyed, pick-proof, very hard to cut, and virtually immune to freezing attacks. It even came with a validating swipe card. Seemed well worth the $80-plus I paid for it. Within six months, that lock fell to bits—the shackle and some of the inner bits just fell out! Broke my little heart to see it; I didn’t bother trying to replace it.

      I still believe in the high quality of German-made Abus locks, which are sold in many bike shops, but they’re not inexpensive.

      The quality of the steal, I mean steel

      Far from improving, I believe the quality of locks has declined over the last 20 years. I had thought that increasing metal prices might be a factor, but steel prices seem to be at a historic low.

      But still. Back in the early 1990s, I expected to pay at least $50 for a very good U-lock. How is it possible that 20 years later, people are still thinking they can get a high-quality lock for that price?

      How exactly are lock makers keeping the prices down? I can’t help but wonder about the real quality of the metal used to make most locks today versus 10 and 20 years ago.

      Bottom line: one way or the other, I believe locks aren’t getting any better but the thieves are, in terms of both tools and techniques.

      Just the existence of portable, battery-powered grinders tips the balance in their favour—grinders can, I think, cut through any padlock shackle or chain that you or I can purchase. And don’t get me started about liquid nitrogen.

      I’m happy if your bike is easier to steal than mine

      My bike and trailer is secured by six feet, and quite a few kilograms, of hard-to-cut transport chain. It wasn’t so expensive—$40 or so. I got it at MEC.

      The U-lock I use is always the weakest part of my security. I keep it oiled, but it still wears out. I’m currently using a mini-U-lock made by Master, but it’s overdue to be replaced. I previously used MEC mini-U-locks, but the quality noticeably deteriorated over a year ago. The newly designed keys were ridiculously easy to damage.

      I had to cut my last MEC mini-U-lock off one of my chains. Just to see, I started with a hacksaw—impossible. A grinder took two minutes to cut through the shackle.

      When I continued to pull the lock apart and cut off the heat-shrink vinyl coating, I discovered the ends of the U-lock’s barrel—containing the tumblers and stuff—was only capped with plastic!

      I nearly have a whole philosophy of bike security. One of my maxims for bicycle security has long been: cheap bike, expensive lock. I still believe you shouldn’t skimp on a lock, but it’s just possible that today’s bike locks are insecure at any price. True or not, I would still always shoot for making my bike harder to steal than the next one.

      How not to lock a bike at the library

      The Vancouver Sun article (cited in the first paragraph) lists Vancouver’s main library downtown as one of the top spots for bike theft. Back in 2007, I was in the regular habit of taking Fridays off and going to that library to spend six or eight hours using my laptop.

      I didn’t have a bike trailer then. I used a three-foot security chain and a U-lock to secure the bike frame and both wheels to a parking meter on the Robson Street side of Library Square. I also removed my seat post.

      One Friday I was at the library by about 10 a.m. and went through the routine with my bike. I took my pannier and bike seat and happily spent the next six hours doing nothing important on an underpowered but beautiful first-generation Macintosh iBook. When I came back out to my bike, I had a chilling shock—somehow I’d been distracted after removing my panier and seat post—I never locked up my bike.

      It sat leaning against the parking meter—completely unlocked—with binners and drug addicts and whomever walking past it, for six freaking hours! I can’t describe how I felt—stupid and fortunate doesn’t begin to cover it—but I was sure I’d used up my entire year’s stock of luck that one day.

      Stanley Q. Woodvine is a homeless resident of Vancouver who has worked in the past as an illustrator, graphic designer, and writer.

      Comments

      10 Comments

      Biker Boy.

      Dec 1, 2013 at 8:24pm

      Make your bike look like shit and write words on the frame like kill, murder, you etc. That plus a some what good lock should help. I think the best way to fuck up your frame is to tape it up then spray bomb. I also want you all to know that my eyes are peeled for bike thieves. So many I know have lost to them. Whose ever heard of a criminal calling the police for assault? Besides it was in self defense. That's what the cops say and they get away with it.

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      cathy

      Dec 1, 2013 at 10:13pm

      Stanley-Glad to hear your bike wasn't stolen-a close call!

      I only have a $30 U lock for my beloved LuLu- Norco hybrid -think it's time for an upgrade.

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      casper

      Dec 1, 2013 at 10:17pm

      Until we have public executions for bike thieves, nothing will change.

      My Specialized from Seattle was stolen in Vancouver in a locked underground parking garage in a bike locker. Sure the lock was crap. Still, lax Vancouver where scum is allowed to multiple, we are doomed.

      At least in the USA, if some piece of crap is caught stealing a bike by an ex marine, the problem is solved right away and it is the reason for the high homicide rates in the USA.

      Donna

      Dec 2, 2013 at 8:06am

      I loathe bike thieves. I had my brand new bike stolen from my locked garage on Mother's Day 2010, as that was the day I had planned on engraving it with my personal license number. I learnt my lesson that I would now engrave immediately, chain, lock and photograph any bike to make it hard to steal! If the thieves attempt to steal, they would have to think again.....how about a jail sentence?

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      Alan Layton

      Dec 2, 2013 at 8:41am

      Good article. I think part of the reason bike thefts might be on the rise is that there are more bikes out there now.

      The only real way to keep bikes secure is to have guarded, fenced bike parking in key areas - such as the library. The users will have to pay for it and it will probably need some government support, but it may be the only answer.

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      out at night

      Dec 2, 2013 at 9:46am

      One way to reduce risk of bike theft: don't ride a mountain bike with a suspension fork. Even after all these years, people still buy these off-road machines for urban commuting! Besides being terribly inefficient on road surfaces, these bikes are also thief magnets (as are pure-bred road racing bikes). My uber-geeky touring/commuter is actually worth over 3 grand, but it's so not sexy and thieves tend not to bother with it. That, plus I carry 2 $100 locks and never lock up anywhere but high traffic, well-lit places.

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      Kaps

      Dec 2, 2013 at 6:48pm

      If Bike owners took more responsibility for their high price possession than just a cheap lock this wouldn't be such an issue. register it with the bike registry and install a tracker on it. your bike should never be "alone"

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      Stanley Q Woodvine

      Dec 2, 2013 at 9:35pm

      True, more bikes on the road must mean more to be stolen.

      I've had two bikes stolen in twenty years. I still shed an occasional tear for the Nishiki Bushwacker (1992-2004).

      Bikes are stolen 1) for the thief to ride; 2) to sell the whole bike, or 3) to sell or use the parts. Superficially fouling the look of the bike will make it much less desirable for the 2nd type of theft; not so much 1 or 3. If you want to go that route, consider painting your bike flaming pink.

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      RUK

      Dec 3, 2013 at 4:43pm

      I love my new bike but the second I got it I thought - oh man - new bike - shit.

      So I have a lock that I think makes the bike twice as heavy but so what.

      I could curse the thieves but I assume that they really really need the money for drugs.

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      Jhon

      May 28, 2014 at 5:18pm

      I just recently had the rear tire to my hybrid bike stolen which cost me around 250 dollars. I was just chocked. Si I did some research online. It turns out the most common things to stay away from are quick release tires as it takes them 8 seconds to steal. Any lock that has a barrel key cause they can be picked with a Bic pen,and avoid locking your bike on weak unsecured poles. They say that double locking your bike is the best one for the front tire to the frame and the same for the back tire.I recently also had my bike lights stolen from me and cost me $100 to replace both so never buy lights you cant remove quickly from your bike as they are easy targets for thieves. Just today actually when i went to go buy a lock for my rear tire I cam back and found someone had tried to steal it again but this time it was foiled as I had handcuffs of the tire attached to the frame.All bike thieves should suffer a horrible existence and I hope that people report these thieves to police even if they suspect a bike theft is taking place as they can still be charged with an offense under criminal code. My biggest piss off is the lack of caring in regards to police response in this regard as they passively push off the victims to deal with it themselves.I personally would rather catch them in kick the crap out of them.

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