Someone tried to steal my bike

[BM-GS]

Check the bike over thoroughly. Some dickhead did my ignition with a screwdriver (FB chain lock over the seat not big enough for him to see, I guess) and caused minor agg getting started.

Everything else seemed fine until 500m down the road when I had to stop for a red light. I then found that the whole ignition barrel had dropped down and was trapped between forks & frame, so no left-turn possible. I'm still glad of that red light, consequences don't bear thinking about if it had been green...

Good luck.

[Real_Wolf]

at least they didn't manage to take it away. Security camera's at uni are a joke though, the ones underneath physics courtyard are just dummy camera's and aren't actually recording.

Two things to check with that ignition. My old bike had a damaged ignition like that, and it had two quirks. Firstly, with anything, you could turn the lock, as long as you could apply the force (Had done it with a ring, with the opposite side of key, etc). Secondly, the key could come out (though it wouldn't wobble out) while in the on position.

[CB ARGH]

Try putting the chain through the rear wheel and over the seat, that works well with my bike, may not with yours though.

Glad to hear that they weren't successful, the bastards deserve a knuckle sandwhich, and a big kick up the ass.

[chocobo_ff]

Check the bike over thoroughly. Some dickhead did my ignition with a screwdriver (FB chain lock over the seat not big enough for him to see, I guess) and caused minor agg getting started.

Everything else seemed fine until 500m down the road when I had to stop for a red light. I then found that the whole ignition barrel had dropped down and was trapped between forks & frame, so no left-turn possible. I'm still glad of that red light, consequences don't bear thinking about if it had been green...

Good luck.

at least they didn't manage to take it away. Security camera's at uni are a joke though, the ones underneath physics courtyard are just dummy camera's and aren't actually recording.

Two things to check with that ignition. My old bike had a damaged ignition like that, and it had two quirks. Firstly, with anything, you could turn the lock, as long as you could apply the force (Had done it with a ring, with the opposite side of key, etc). Secondly, the key could come out (though it wouldn't wobble out) while in the on position.

Very good suggestions, thanks for that! Will do that sometime tomorrow, I think I'm going to stay away from the bike tonight just to try and keep my cool about what happened. Had a quick check and the ignition seemed ok, and I rode home without problems, but will definitely go over it again tomorrow to be sure.

Try putting the chain through the rear wheel and over the seat, that works well with my bike, may not with yours though.

Glad to hear that they weren't successful, the bastards deserve a knuckle sandwhich, and a big kick up the ass.

I put the chain through the rear wheel then to a security bar thingy (bit like those for bikes, but much thicker and they are bolted to the ground). Are you referring to putting it through the rear wheel and then the seat when there's nothing to chain the bike to? That's what I do if I go somewhere without a bar or post or tree or something to chain my bike to (and then put the disc lock - which I normally don't use if I chain my bike to a bar because honestly I don't see the point - on my front wheel just as an extra layer or protection)

[mozzee]

Someone did exactly the same to mine last week. I was parked by Freedom Furniture on Lincoln Road out west for all of 5 mins. Came back and some ass had screwed with the lock. It was a hot sunny day and lots of people were in the carpark. It took me about 30mins of getting frustrated with the lock to finally get the key to turn (was just on the phone to the insurance company getting some onroad assistance). But I finally have it pretty much down to a technique now of pulling the key out slightly before turning it - therefore avoiding the huge dent from the screwdriver. I was pretty pissed - I had a disk lock on too - so they wouldn't have got very far. Pointless crime!! But I feel for ya buddy - not a nice thing to go through.

[Slyer]

Man they are onto it eh, impressed that you bothered to put the disc lock on even though you were only going to be gone for 5 minutes. Was worth it obviously!

[mozzee]

Unfortunately I have lived in west auckland too long! I know what they're like. Have had enough cars stolen and damaged over the years. Not gonna let anyone steal my baby - well not gonna make it easy for them anyway!!

[zzzbang]

Seems to happen quite often lately, maybe its some new vandal past time..something like keying cars. Had some douche carve his initials on my car door the other day....

[The Pastor]

Thats nasty, bro. Maybe park it where theres some security cameras and get a video of the cunt and then get organised to go have a wee speak with them. Forget the cops, they are completely uninterested in this, even if you got a video of the person - maybe if the crim parked illegally they will be keen to come down and write him a ticket.

Steve

you flipping muppet. pissoff already.

chocobo, DO report this to the police. they wont do anything, but it will be on file, and could be usefull if they get heaps of reports of simerlar crimes in the same area. and will help with insurance etc etc.

nothing will happen if no one reports the crime.

[chocobo_ff]

Have reported the incident to the university security and the police, obviously they can't do much since nothing was stolen and it was a relatively minor issue (compared to say the whole lock being broken).

It's really unfortunate this sort of things happens, especially at the university, where the majority of us are poor students who have trouble getting by as it is without these crooks ruining our bikes

[bigfoot]

Sons of bitches ! Well I wasnt as lucky as you when I had my gsx250 lifted, but thats coz I was a bigger retard that relied on the steering lock. report it to the police despite the fact that they wont do shit anyways coz they need to have these incidents on file just for stats if nothing else.

Also, should we be discussing what cameras are dummys and what carparks dont have cameras in front of theiving thugs......only making their job EASIER

[shafty]

Sons of bitches ! Well I wasnt as lucky as you when I had my gsx250 lifted, but thats coz I was a bigger retard that relied on the steering lock. report it to the police despite the fact that they wont do shit anyways coz they need to have these incidents on file just for stats if nothing else.

Also, should we be discussing what cameras are dummys and what carparks dont have cameras in front of theiving thugs......only making their job EASIER

Dummy cameras ARE for dummies. If they are dumb enough to steal in view of actual CCTV cameras, they would do the same in front of dummy cameras.

I have heard of a Supermarket in Ak with signwriting "This carpark is under camera surveillance". Someone had their car nicked. "Bugger, but at least it will be on camera" . Turns out they were dummies (both meanings) .

Depending on which story ending you believe, the Supermarket had to pay out the car theft victim....

Rant over.

Sorry to hear about your bike Dude

[motorbyclist]

Dummy cameras ARE for dummies. If they are dumb enough to steal in view of actual CCTV cameras, they would do the same in front of dummy cameras.

cameras, in theory, will deter thieves - they generally don't know if they're live or dummies

LIVE cameras, may give vital evidence as to who the thief is, or atleast what to expect in the future.

considering how little the cost of a basic CCTV system is in proportion to that of ongoing vehicle theft, especially when you already have an existing system, a dummy camera really IS for dummies.

the fact that UNisafe has live cameras monitoring things like major walkways into and out of some buildings, but dummies on the entries/exits to their staff parking is ridiculous. i'd call it downright irresponsible. shit, if i knew what exit MY bike took from CP36 i could possibly get further footage from auckland city's cameras situated on nearby intersections/motorways - or not seeing as they don't actually keep the footage for any length of time and the police don't actually have direct access (or so the cop told me upon my enquiry)