Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Bike thieves....
Hi - I've had a couple of bikes stolen from a green bike store in my front garden on Warham Road. The police have been pretty good and attentive, but as there were no witnesses (they were taken in the dead of night) or forensics there's not a lot they can go on.
They have however told me that there have been at least three other similar thefts from people with exactly the same green bike store outside their house as the one I have in this area, so they're clearly being targetted.. it's one of these...
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18775/Outdoor-Buildings/Metal-Sheds-G...
Mine had four big padlocks on the outside, and the two bikes were locked together and to the inside of the store - but they still managed to get everything, so is clearly professionals with some heavy duty cutting equipment.
So - beware, the SNT have dropped leaflets through the doors of people who own these things warning them about the thefts. Thought it might be useful for others to be aware too..
Cheers, and happy cycling (for those who still can, sniff sniff)
They have however told me that there have been at least three other similar thefts from people with exactly the same green bike store outside their house as the one I have in this area, so they're clearly being targetted.. it's one of these...
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18775/Outdoor-Buildings/Metal-Sheds-G...
Mine had four big padlocks on the outside, and the two bikes were locked together and to the inside of the store - but they still managed to get everything, so is clearly professionals with some heavy duty cutting equipment.
So - beware, the SNT have dropped leaflets through the doors of people who own these things warning them about the thefts. Thought it might be useful for others to be aware too..
Cheers, and happy cycling (for those who still can, sniff sniff)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Arthur Astrop on
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Paul,
My sincere commiserations on your loss. I am a little surprised no-one heard the noise of someone using a heavy bolt cutter on the external padlocks, to say nothing of further noises caused once they got inside the shed. But perhaps you sleep at the back of the house?
It occurs to me that when I open my fridge door a very small micro-switch closes and a light comes on. Could you not fit a similar switch on the inside of the shed door which, when actuated, both rings a bell in the house AND in the shed. It could also, if you wished, switch on a security light fitted beneath the guttering and focused on the shed.
The idea is that surely a combination of a ringing bell and a floodlight would persuade them not to hang about long enough to tackle the inside of the shed as well as the outside?
If the shed is lean-to to the house, the wiring could pass straight through the house wall from inside the shed, thus being completely concealed. If the shed is not lean-to, then bury the cable in its passage to the house, or put it in heavy steel conduit. If you've paid over £500 for the shed (not to mention the insurance premium) then the extra outlay might be worth it?
Best wishes,
Arthur Astrop
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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A professional gang of cycle thieves at work? Is the same pattern occurring elsewhere in Haringey or nearby? Have the Police design-out-crime people any advice?
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Those elegant bike kennels must also have room for a pit-bull or two, no?
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The only solution is to connect an mobile phone to a bulb minus glass, connect to a condom filled with highly inflamable liquid, hide the whole lot under the saddle and then when the theft occurs phone the number. Would be funny to watch a person riding down the road after ignition. I'm only joking Mr or Mrs Special Branch! I wouldn't actually do that as it could harm the environment!!:)
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Hmmm..... you may have an idea there frank d
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Permalink Reply by Paul Harvey on
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i wouldn't let that put you off - they are really good sheds, just need super sturdy padlocks and then as has already been suggested, make sure there's a sheffield stand or equivalent bolted to the concrete underneath which you can d-lock the bikes to within the shed....
is really good to have them out of the house - and as long as they're still covered under house insurance, you're ok if anything does happen.....
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Permalink Reply by JD on
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Hi yes I would agree. We've upgraded our padlocks now & the London Cycling Campaign has lots of really good infoabout bikes & security inc suppliers of Sheffield stands which seems a good idea.
Any further contact from the Police? We had a call from an officer suggesting they think they know who is doing it it.
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Interesting.... good they may have a lead. They closed my case file only three or four days after the thefts, saying there was no evidence to follow-up, no forensics etc, all they took away were the snipped padlocks. I thought odd that they didn't even try and finger-printing of the shed though.
No contact since, but I've had the leaflet through the door about the sheds - funnily enough the shed in the picture was mine the morning after the theft..
Which padlocks have you upgraded to?
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Mention is made of this in the Policing newsletter that Hugh posted yesterday
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Hi we've just bought new Master padlocks that claim to be extra difficult for bolt cutters, made from titanium I think, more a case of what was in the shop than carefully selected but I noticed someone else has included details of locks on a previous post - pricey but may be worth it. I think we might try and get a sheffield stand when we get round to it. Fingers crossed we won't all be targetted for a while.
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Hello Paul, condolences on your loss - I sympathise.
I recently had my bike stolen from a communal area (under the stairs) in the flats where I live. The thief was seen and apprehended vocally by a neighbour, but he just opened the door and rode off on my bike. In spite of a witness and description, (white, mid to late 20s, 5 10, brown hair, thin, with Orange kickers) that is the last I have and will see of my bike - which was a black Specialized Sirrus.
BTW If someone tries to sell any of you one that has the left gear changer held on by a black plastic tie tag and which has a ramshackle enlarged hole drilled (to allow larger inner tube valves to fit) in the rear tyre rim, it's mine.
Anyway, sad to lose your bikes. It seems that this guy was scoping out the place for some time before he took the bike. I will keep my next bike in the house with me.
In spite of a witness and the possibility of forensics, the police closed the case a couple of days later, so that doesn't necessarily help much.
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Sorry to resurrect this thread, but we returned this afternoon to notice that two of the four padlocks on our bike store (which is the same as the one that Paul mentioned) had been sliced through. Fortunately, the other two were intact, so I can only assume that the thieves were disturbed halfway through. I dare say they'll be back.
I wish I had something constructive to add by way of advice. The two padlocks that they got through were the ones on the side; the ones on the front were left alone. I had hoped that having four heavy duty padlocks would serve as an adequate deterrent, but it seems not. Perhaps the circular padlocks (which don't have any space to get a bolt cutter around the shackle) are a better bet?
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