Location trackers won't end bike theft, but I'm using them anyway

[@JimCullen]

"it's so easy to get away with it. It's a crime without consequence". This is true, and there have actually been studies related to this. Not specifically about bike theft, but about the impact of probability of getting caught on rates of offending. Specifically, if your goal is to reduce the rate at which a specific crime is committed, making the punishments more and more severe has very little impact. But increasing the likelihood that people who commit that crime will get caught and charged is very effective at reducing offending rates.

[@cjohnson3836]

The reason increasing severity of punishment has little effect is because the probability of being caught is low. Its not a this or that, they are connected. Anything multiplied by zero equals zero. Its about expected cost vs benefit. Expected cost = Punishment(Prob of punishment). For the expected cost to mitigate any perceived benefits BOTH probability of being caught and severity of punishment must be significant.

[@rainbowevil]

@@cjohnson3836 it’s good that you have some data to back this up and aren’t just espousing what you believe to be true… Ah wait. There has to be some punishment of course, but getting caught and dealing with all that and whatever punishment there is, even fairly mild like community service, would probably be enough and seems to be what the evidence suggests. You just need to actually catch them.

[@cjohnson3836]

@@rainbowevil I do. Its literally the evolution of cooperation. Go fucking read a book.

[@rainbowevil]

@@cjohnson3836 lol calm down, otherwise YT shadow blocks your comments from appearing to others like it did for yours there 😂 care to quote the relevant research from the mentioned book? I see from Wikipedia it has some allusions to what philosophers reckon, but that’s hardly evidence mate. And in any case, the thing being advocated for is to increase the chance of being caught dramatically, we can worry about making punishments harsher if doing that first thing doesn’t actually achieve the results the studies say it should. Paying attention to the punishment side of the equation before you’re able to catch anyone is slightly putting the cart before the horse, no?

[@ArmandoDoval]

​@@rainbowevil getting caught isn't enough, the penalty has to be high enough to make the theft unprofitable. Even if you get caught 25% of the time, if the penalty is $100 but you can sell stolen bikes for $500, it still makes sense to steal. When the only penalty for breaking a rule is a fine, rich people break the rule no matter how many times they get caught because the cost is inconsequential to them. The fine is just the price for the privilege of not playing by the rules.

[@ryancherry1017]

My strategies are: 1) have a "crappy" unsexy, old, rusty bike for short trips around town that is a deterrent by itself. I only paid like $160 for my beater bike from an older gentleman. 1a) use multiple locks and lock as much as you can. Security skewers, u locks, cafe locks & chains 2) Use a Brompton folding bike that goes with you everywhere 3) never lock a nicer bike outside for extended periods 4) have pictures of the bike and serial as evidence of your ownership. 5) make sure it's covered by insurance Outside of my list but if you buy used bikes, try to vet the seller. Are they shady? Willing to meet at a police station? Proof of purchase? Is the deal too good to be true? Don't perpetuate the problem.

[@stuarthirsch]

Great tips!

[@Free-g8r]

There are also databases for you to register your bike. These let you report the bike stolen and help you prove ownership. They also allow buyers to check a bike's serial number before buying used. The two databases I know are Bike Index and 529 Garage. Some police departments even partner with them and will cross reference these databases to find the owners of recovered stolen bikes.

[@codylittlefield7885]

I always use two locks, and so does my wife. When we ride together, we use ALL FOUR locks. Two kryptonite chains and two kryptonite u-locks. Basically, the idea is for thieves to see that and choose the next bike that won't take four times as long to steal.

[@thunderb00m]

I went on a muddy trail and left the dirt caked on as a deterrent. Not stolen yet 😉

[@Soundbrigade]

And for Swedish bikers (and maybe others), report the theft to the police. Else, if finding your stolen bike and “repossess” it you may be accused for theft. But with a police report you can take the bike, bring it to the police and say “hey, I found my bike, here’s the report ….” and you are fine. Also, often people hand in bikes lying around to the police and going looking in their stores will only work if there’s a report on the theft. Most often and in smaller cities at least, here (Sweden) steal bikes to get from the clubs in the city centers to home when the last bus has gone and there are no cabs available. However these people also have a tendency to thrash the bikes after use.

[@Korina42]

My trick is to not have any expensive bikes, and nothing from this century. It also helps that mine looks a bit girly, being purple with purple pedals and pink cable housing. I also use a lock to discourage those looking for an easy ride. I have the serial number written down and lots of pics, because Pretty Purple Princess Penelope is quite photogenic. 🥰

[@raithrover1976]

Nothing from this century? Sounds like my record collection😂

[@laughingbeast4481]

Now I wanna meet Penelope! If I were a thief, you might be in trouble lol

[@Korina42]

@@laughingbeast4481 You'd have to get here first. :-D If you google Pretty Purple Princess Penelope she will show up.

[@place2charge_official]

I just got a new bike and came up with the following security concept: 1. Two bike locks: Folding lock (Abus Bordo 6500) + Frame lock (ABUS Pro Shield XPlus 5955), both can be opened with the same key. 2. A GPS sticker on the frame from Amazon (should keep some potential thiefs from stealing) 3. Visible fake GPS product on the frame (if thief steals it, he knows it has GPS because of the sticker so he will look for a device and will probably remove the fake GPS tracker to feel safe) 4. Airtag hidden inside the pipe between the suspension fork. 5. Bike insurance (19€ per year for 1000€ bike value, it is an insurance addon of my homeowner's insurance which makes it much cheaper than a separate bike insurance) Maybe this helps someone or inspires other ideas. Tom, i really like your content, keep it up :-) Greetings from Germany!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

This is a great run-down of your security measures, so thank you for sharing. It's also hard not to lament that we need all of this just to ride a bike around our cities 😢

[@SimonBrowneNZ]

I’m with you. 2 locks. But I add a clearly visible 529 badge to lessen the chance of theft in first place. Here in New Zealand, 529 has had a huge uptake since the original Shifter video made an impact with a couple of us and bike shops were invited to get involved by badging bikes as they were unpacked and put out on the shop floor.

[@SianaGearz]

Hold on how does an airtag work in a Faraday cage?

[@cyrusf.4039]

529 garage is good idea (I use it for all my bikes) but it's like an Air Tag, it's not preventative, it's after the fact. Things I suggest: 1) Don't use cable locks (I think they should not be sold, period). 2) If your bike is expensive keep it in the apartment, too many thieves uses bike storage cages as a bike shop to select the best bikes they want 3) If you are doing long term storage of bike consider removing the pedals and/or seat, make it less convenient to steal 4)Consider two bikes a "throw away bike" for risky trips downtown (for less than the price of yearly insurance you could buy an older bike just for short trips and errands). And then there are the big picture solutions like the city offering bike valet parking downtown (Victoria BC), pay for use bike lockers in sheltered and camera monitored parking enclosures. And more broadly ,offer free bikes to the homeless along with free and accessible bike repair so as to reduce demand for stolen bikes on the street. We send thousands of bikes overseas so I think we can send some locally to those that need them the most. I think that there's been a shift in attitude about bike theft and that it's no longer just accepted as the price of choosing to ride a bike. Thanks for putting the topic front and centre.

[@stuarthirsch]

I like the throw away bike and multiple locks. They can be gotten cheaply from Walmart etc, Greg's list, or thrift stores. Even bought from the city or county. Many people bring old bikes to the county dump and the county sells them. Counties also sell older police bikes.

[@katherandefy]

Great comment .. shout out🎉

[@BradFonseca]

Thanks for making the video. Cities and commercial plazas also need to step up with more secure and more numerous bike locking locations, preferably protected from the elements. If you can easily find a safe (and dry) place to lock up your bike everywhere you go, you'll see a positive impact on reducing bike theft.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Thank you for the ongoing support Brad. It really means a lot. And those are good points. Cities need to do a better job offer secure bike parking.

[@katherandefy]

And you will see an uptick ridership.

[@lidge1994]

Indeed, maybe a place to lock your bike with an overhang and security cameras, possbily with locks there which you can open with a QR code (like public bikes/bikesharing, except you unlock a place to lock your bike instead of unlocking a bike to ride it). I'd definitely lock my bike there anytime, dunno when I last even used my bike outside of recreational rides where I don't leave it alone.

[@devinbyrnes8058]

If you bike is stolen, check the methodone clinics, the homeless encampments and the coffee shops the skids frequent. That will recover 3/4 thefts. Our local bike shop employs a “bike finder”, this summer he recovered 6 bikes within the hour simply by visiting those locals. Call your bike shop, not the cops.

[@Regantdarcy]

I live in NYC(the bicycle theft Capitol of the world). So I’ve had so many bikes stolen I can’t even count. It got so bad that I stopped buying expensive road bikes & bought cheaper hybrids like the Giant Escape instead(great bike by the way). But even those got stolen too! Finally a psychologist friend of mine who knows human behavior, suggested a solution. She told me to write a simple note & attach it to my bike whenever i locked it up to deter theft. She said write these words on a small index card in crayon as if a kid wrote it…”Please don’t steal my bike. I am handicapped & need the bike to get around. Thanks.” At first I scoffed. But her theory was that even bike thieves have a conscience & if it comes to stealing your bike or another, they’ll skip yours & choose another. So I did what she said & laminated the card. I would attach it to my bike handle bars whenever I locked it up in public, and guess what?…. It totally worked! I haven’t had a bike stolen since. Having said that, I still plan to use an Apple air tag sewn into the bottom of my bike saddle. Especially since I plan to buy an expensive bike with a carbon belt drive from Priority bikes soon. 🚴 👍🏼

[@tthomas184]

I also live in NYC. I've had 1 bike stolen in 30 years, and that was my own stupidity. Right now I've downgraded to an old Gary Fisher mountain bike l bought used for 100 bucks, which is in excellent condition . It's surprisingly fast. I also have two good locks, which is key. And a small lock for my seatpost. After that I just use common sense. I've always kept my bikes indoors, and leave them only for short periods in places I'm not familiar with. I've left my current bike outside my apartment building for well over a week, no problem. All that said, I'd be really careful with a fairly expensive Priority bike. Thief magnet. Buy the best locks out there, don't park it outside overnight and never take it to a high theft or touristy area if you can't keep an eye on it.

[@jtzett]

My daughter found her stolen bike locked (at uni) and added her own lock with a note. The thief eventually removed their lock and she got her bike back!

[@een_schildpad]

Seems like a very NYC approach to the problem... combat the hustle with a hustle 🙃

[@robgrey6183]

Your solution assumes that the criminal scum can read. And that they can read English.

[@KiliGraphics]

​@@jtzettShe should have instantly cut their lock off. They could have gotten her bike again.

[@LucasDimoveo]

We can’t have bikability if every bike oriented town has a high level of bike theft

[@asdfghyter]

Getting a cheap ugly looking bike is a pretty effective theft deterrent though. I don't think you need a fancy bike for most purposes and the risk of getting it stolen is negligible

[@derekjolly3680]

This is a reasonable statement. I think it also speaks to the differences between medium or small cities and huge inner cities of large cities. The smaller ones don't tend to be so "bike oriented" like mine here. Judging by what I see for others locking bikes and getting by with it, I've actually become habitual for overlocking. But when you spend any time thinking about the hows and what fors of bike thefts, it's easy to do. I was actually considering cable locking my seat yesterday, although I realized my Krypto cable would not fit in the underside. But how likely is that now? A punk risking a bust or a beatdown over taking someone's bike post and seat? That's like a home invasion and multiple murder for $50 gain!

[@hngldr]

I hope this includes something about motion alarms (edit: I see it did a little!) - they've prevented my bike from being stolen at least twice! (Probably more times while I was away, but twice where it was physically obvious that someone messed with my bike including once where I found it - cable cut - laying on its side further down the sidewalk with alarms blaring). They are a far better upgrade to your security system than buying an extremely heavy, expensive, "uncuttable" lock that can and will still get cut and signals that your bike is worth more. I have one visible (for them to go for if they try to rip it off) and one hidden so that if they rip that one off, they still hear it and start to question "geez how many layers ARE there?!" and abandon it - which is exactly what happened when I found it on its side. The visible one was ripped off, the hidden one was still going.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I have been supremely skeptical about motion alarms since reading a report on the almost complete and utter uselessness of car alarms -- something close to 100% of people responded to a survey saying they do nothing when they hear a car alarm, and a huge percentage of car alarm alerts are false alarms. Those add up to a deal-breaking in my opinion. But to hear it help you out in this situation makes me think that perhaps it's different in the bike world.

[@hngldr]

@@Shifter_Cycling Yes - I thought the same thing myself at first but for how cheap they are ($15 for one, ~$35 for another with brake lights and turn signals that's nifty for certain situations), I figured I'd give them a whirl. So far so good! I think maybe it hits different when it becomes clear that its a bike making the noise. I'm also not sure it has to do with the likelihood that people would "do" anything if they saw one going off, but rather that it made the thief think "how many layers are there? Is this gonna be one of those prank videos where the seat has a taser? Screw this I'm out!" Lastly, I think the same human element that helps cyclists navigate through intersection helps someone biking along with an alarm go off feel more shame if people give them looks (or if they even think they might). Whereas when dealing with a car you've got that mobile armor, and even if just stealing things from the car people generally would be more scared of that person (since that's a more serious action?) and have less physically open views of the act since at a minimum one side is blocked by the car and if they leave with stuff, they won't have the alarm following with them. Perhaps it will become useless as everyone adopts them and false positives become as common as car alarm false positives (I've definitely had my share of false positives with my bike). But there are still a few differences that I think will help - namely the human element and the fact the alarm follows with the stolen object (provided it's well hidden enough). Either way they're cheap and they've worked for this one data point twice - take that for what you will. Thanks a ton for these videos!

[@ichijofestival2576]

​@@Shifter_Cycling The problem with that comparison is that car theft is relatively rare, especially out in the open, because it's a "real crime." And far more difficult. It's almost always a false alarm for good reason. Meanwhile, bike theft is a "crime" so ubiquitous and so subtle that it's indistinguishable from normal behavior. If I were presented with a clear indicator, I'd be much more likely to believe it. (And just imagine if they can't disable the alarm: all the way home, causing a racket, drawing the attention of everyone they pass. And then if it's a kid, imagine them trying to sneak it past and/or explain it to their parents/neighbors.) It just seems pretty logical to think that bike theft would be a lot less common if it weren't a silent crime. And, hey, this could be a perfect subject for another video. Maybe do some covert testing? I'd definitely be here for it.

[@WrecklessSandwich]

@@hngldr I think the fact that they're not yet common plays into that as well. It starts beeping and (unless they're dedicated professional thieves) they don't know if it's just a beeper or something that's send out a bunch of other alerts etc. If every bike gets a basic motion alarm and it becomes a normal thing that they understand, that fear of the unknown goes away.

[@rmorales1029]

What brand of alarm are you using?

[@Mantis858585]

Never forget that inside edition did a segment where they hid an apple tag on a bike and chased it down, taking down the biggest bike thief in Seattle. Take down the kingpins, and greatly reduce theft.

[@bg4667]

I appreciate your advocacy on this issue. Bike parts aren't safe in places here. Even cheap ones. I got a Brompton. If they don't let me in, I don't need to go there.

[@frankhooper7871]

I've never had an issue with a folded Brompton 🤓

[@ShaunHall-i7e]

I have an inexpensive bike that I use on a daily basis. I choose places to go that are highly visible and keep my time as short as possible when I'm shopping. The more we talk about this issue the more proactive we will be. Thanks for the video.

[@LisaMiza]

Literally today I forgot my keys in my e-bike after leaving it at the station cuz the train had already rolled in so i was in a hurry. It ain't a pretty or expensive bike by any means, but it is what I use daily together with public transport to get everywhere, so for me it'd really suck for me if I lost it. Luckily the key was facing away from the walkway and I was able to go home a bit earlier from work to see if it was still there, and it was. Here in Denmark we do have a unique number stamped into the metal of the bike that you can register with the police. That helps if it gets used, then abandoned by the thief, or if the thief tries to sell it, since anyone can look up if that bike frame _is_ registered to the person you're buying it from. But it'd be literally handicapping me if someone was to steal it, like, handicapping my every day - I'd say we'd need to teach thieves more ethics lol, if ya gatta steal (witch ya don't), at least steal something frivolous xP

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I'm glad your bike was still there when you got back. Police here are starting to use databases, which is nice if the bike is ever recovered. But I think we need to do a lot more on bike theft prevention.

[@robgrey6183]

Another solution would be to lock up these criminals for long sentences when they are caught, as an example. Yeah, I know, crazy talk.

[@robgrey6183]

Van Moof bike recovery in the Chicago ghetto or Trenton New Jersey would make a great reality TV show.

[@SimonBrowneNZ]

Hey Tom. It would have been good to see the 529 badge proudly displayed on your cool Priority belt driven hub geared bike. I missed out snow-tyred. These discussions on bike security are so good. Please keep them coming. I’ll be pointing everyone with a bike to your discussions. Kind regards,Simon

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Great point. I'm ordering my stickers now!

[@JohnBarrow1961]

Good info, Tom, thanks. Having a bike stolen would definitely suck. Right now I only use my bike for exercise, meaning I take it out for a ride then bring it home and secure it inside, no commuting or anything like that. I don't even own a lock right now. I don't leave it anywhere, secured or unsecured. But I was lucky to get this bike in the first place a couple of years ago and having it has really helped me deal with all the crap that's been going on for more than three years now. Losing it would be pretty hard to deal with. I think it's easier to buy bikes now, but that's not really the point. It's good to know there are options to protect against theft. Cheers.

[@yuko604]

I live in Vancouver and have 529 on both my bikes. One is my old Trek that I feel okay leaving outside on errands. I use a U lock. On my nicer converted stepthrough mid-drive e-assist bike I have 3 locks: two Ulocks and one folding (all Abus). I take it inside at work. In my condo underground parking bike cage, during a recent break-in two other ebikes were stolen. They didn't touch mine; not sure why. Stepthrough looks too much like a mom-bike or perhaps the pain-in-the-ass 3 locks, or maybe the 529 sticker? Or the combo of all these things? I added a tile-tag recently, but it's so I know my bike is still in my parking garage at night. It's extreme I know, but it's Vancouver.

[@erinrising2799]

Only had my bike stolen once when I was a kid. It was stolen by teenage neighbors, you could see it from our upstairs window. My mom went over and threatened them with telling their parents and cops. They returned it and I never left my bike in my fenced back yard again. I forgot to mention my town did have a bike registry for kids. They gave you a sticker with a specific number and took down your info. This was in the late 80s early 90s.

[@brushlessmotoring]

After having a $2000 e bike stolen, and two $800 bikes stolen in Vancouver (BC) I just gave up on biking around the city for errands, in just the same way you have with your expensive bike, you basically can't use it if you need to leave it, even for a minute, because it will be gone when you get back. We have a dedicated set of folks in cities who feed their addictions with theft, and the police do not treat bike theft any different to minor property theft, despite the fact it discourages cycling, which increases traffic, pollution and injuries, the "butterfly effect" that bike theft has on transport choices is ignored, and stealing a bike is treated the same as stealing a watch. What got me back on the streets and out of a car is micro mobility, small, light, fold-able and powered, so you arrive without breaking a sweat, and bring the device in with you. I know a lot of the urban cycling you tubers seem to want to ignore e-scooters, or cover them somewhat grudgingly, or even mockingly, but honestly, I think they solve all the problems of urban mobility - including theft - in one affordable device that appeals to a lot of folks who maybe just don't want to cycle - often because of the theft risk alone. For a long time I wanted an electric folding bike, but when I got into electric wheels (EUCs) I realised the 'already folded' nature of a mono wheel, with 20 miles range and a speed upto 20 mph was actually the device I was after (Inmotion V8, CA$1500) and compared to say an electric Brompton (CA$6000), it was one quarter the price, and takes no time to transition into a building. Sits under a shopping cart or desk. Next time you are in Vancouver, it would be great to come out on a group ride with the micro mobility folks, and get your take on where you see these new-ish devices fitting into the urban landscape - I would love it if hardcore cyclists embraced micromobility as non car brothers rather than being 'other' - the goal is the same: "One Less Car". In my view, micro mobility solves the last piece of the non-car puzzle: You can't steal them. I have my electric wheel badged with Project 529 stickers - they will register anything with a serial number - but you are first going to have to pry it from my cold dead hands .... Great video, as always, glad you got your bike "back" - the Vanmoof idea is interesting, looked like they had the similar radio devices wildlife trackers use - you can triangulate the position with a couple of antennas.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Are you referring to a shared e-scooter from a private company like Lime or Bird? Or are you the owner of an e-scooter? Either way, these are solid points worth considering. Thank you.

[@brushlessmotoring]

@@Shifter_Cycling privately owned - shared scooters seem to be designed to annoy people and actually turn the public against micro mobility. Thanks for calling out the difference. Definitely privately owned devices is what I’m advocating for.

[@cocobailey777]

I also live in Vancouver and use my Onewheel (euc, but sideways stance instead like a snowboard) to get around. Great points :) didn’t know about the project 529 thing, I will definitely go register it now

[@M5Dri3rz]

eBikes are the best way to get around Vancouver but they don't stand a chance here. I have tooling marks on bike locks and I'm never really away from them for long. I ride a $300 department store special around town too! The ebikes don't get left out of eye shot. Bromptons are great but I don't find it that convenient to roll around stores and such. I don't have the rear rack on mine so I just have the fender wheel and it isn't great. Would love to get onto an EUC but I'm afraid of getting hurt!

[@zeugundso]

One more reason I like the NextBike sharing systems here in Germany, in flex zones you can just park next to a bike rack, push down the frame lock and you don't need to care about theft.

[@countertony]

I think the thing to remember is that Airtag, Tile, etc *AS SYSTEMS* aren't designed to deal with deliberate theft - they exist for items that you lose accidentally and want to recover from wherever you left them (or where a good citizen has deposited them), so it's vital they make themselves obvious when that happens (so an alarm is a good thing for both on- and legitimate off-brand uses). Since use for theft recovery is indistinguishable from use for stalking, the countermove by the person carrying the thing you've stashed the device in is the same - smash it, remove it, or put it up the bum of someone they hate.

[@JesmondBeeBee]

Re registration services, UK bike owners have the free Bike Register. You can register your bike. You can look up the serial number of a second hand bike you're buying, to see if it's on there and marked as stolen. All the police forces in the UK use it to try to get bikes back to owners if recovered from someone who's got a load of stolen bikes. And you can buy stickers or permanent marking kits from them to show your bike is registered, which might be at least a small deterrent if a thief is choosing which one to swipe from a rack of bikes!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

A good bike registry database feels to me like the first step. A requirement. Once that's in place, I think the community can build from there.

[@sarahs784]

And you can get RFID tags that you can put in the seat post, immobiTag do them for about £20, and the police can scan the bike if it's found after being stolen, and check a database to find the owner. It wouldn't stop the theft, but might act as a deterrent, as you get stickers to put on the frame from the company.

[@ThalassTKynn]

The airtag sound playing as someone steals a bike could work like an alarm in a way. It might be enough for them to drop the bike and leave it. Maybe. I've got a combo horn/alarm on mine, but so far I haven't had it save my bike. Mostly because there isn't any bike parking in my city, at least in the areas I want to go. So I'm very cautious about where I park it.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Yes, this is true, and it may act as a preventative measure as well. Or it might just alert the thief to the fact that there's an AirTag on board.

[@ThalassTKynn]

@@Shifter_Cycling yeah true. They might be able to find it and get rid of it quickly

[@Natoflyboy]

Thanks!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I appreciate the support very much. It helps keep the channel going!

[@SustainableDreams]

Gorgeous skating rink sunrise!

[@dutchman7623]

Living in the Netherlands every employer has a safe bicycle parking, usually with security cams. Each house or apartment has a bicycle shed that can be locked. All around city center there are free bicycle parkings with guards. If I have to park it without supervision, I usually chain it up close to the entrance of a mall or shop, because they have cameras as well. Doesn't make sure it's still there when I get back, but almost. Enough not to worry about it.

[@myopenmind527]

Thanks for keeping this as a standard item to review from time to time. Bike theft is something we can stop but it will take a concerted effort by all to achieve this. Ty 👏 👏

[@henomasto2624]

Damn I just suggested this on your other video. Thanks for your videos! Stay safe out there brother!

[@JogBird]

the best approach is to lock it up beside a bike that is less secure

[@iliamanolov5926]

Re: going into the apartment building, if your bike has an AirTag you could ask someone to let you inside the building and by going through each floor you can use the Ultra Wide-Band to pinpoint a flat where the AirTag is located, so it's not a much more difficult situation compared to ending up in a house.

[@JonFairhurst]

There’s one place I will take my expensive bike. It’s a local coffee place with an indoor bike hanger. I still worry when my back is turned. One can “lock” the bike with their helmet strap. It would delay a thief and might cause them to make a ruckus, if they don’t expect it. Of course, a lightweight lock is better. A their would need to be pretty bold to use bolt cutters inside a coffee bar, let alone an angle grinder!

[@buckettraveler8398]

Also, if you see a bike locked up forever in a place you frequent find the identification number on it and call your local police station. I have helped 2 people recover their bikes by doing this. One wasn't that grateful, it was a pretty cheap bike, but the other the guy was really grateful. Basically there are some thieves that I guess want to just use the bike, lock it up, and since they didn't pay for it they probably forget about it. Both bikes I just noticed were locked up in one place for a long time, I called the police department, told them the number and asked if it was reported stolen. It was and I asked them to call the owner, they asked where the bike was, and in both instances I met the police and the owners to get their bike. The police snipped a chain cheap wire lock on one and had a grinder to get through a u-lock on the other but that was it, bike returned. I'm sure most thieves steal to sell the bike, like 99%, but there are those that just want something to ride for a while.

[@electricerger]

My thoughts on the tech front: - AirTags: Ideally we'd have a kind of system that can send a push notification when the device is moving (especially when separate from you). That way additional systems like CCTV can have a timestamp to reference. - Facilities: A certain scale it becomes viable to start adding on additional security features to parking. Things like CCTV, 2FA (personal and facility bike locks), and other methods of tracking/alerting who's taking certain bikes will help. Obviously not going to help your corner store, but it would help downtown and airports.

[@JoshKablack]

Tom: " I don't live in a frozen wasteland." Also Tom: Records video from inland Canada in February. 😛

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Frozen, yes. Wasteland, no 😀

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

I like how more bike companies are making theft deterrant systems built in to bikes. Things like location tracking, needing a key, having a geozone where if it leaves that zone you get a text and the bike shuts down, built in alarms, course these are all on ebikes but theyre starting to see its a problem. Personally all my bikes are registered with 529Garage, have an alarm, 2 locks and I keep them inside at home not in a shed or garage. Last time I had a bike stolen police told me we have more important things to deal with. Recently a local man had his macbook stolen, he tracked it to a home same as a air tag works, called police and police wouldnt do anything. Apparently built in device tracking saying its here isnt enough proof to look.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I agree that it's great to see bike companies finally stepping up and thinking about how to deal with this problem. They can't solve it alone, but they can be a huge part of a solution.

[@another3997]

Tracking is a good idea, but there are problems. Batteries discharge and die, so you can no longer track it. It has to be accessible to change batteries etc. This limits where it can be put, and makes it more easily found by a thief. Anything that broadcasts a signal can also be detected by a thief with the right equipment. Any company that can track your stolen bike, can also track you, which may or may not be desirable. Reliability could be a problem due to vibrations and impacts over time, shaking connections loose etc. But as an additional layer of security, a tracker is a good thing.

[@Theoddert]

Verry good video. I wonder what you think of alarm products? I think it would be alot trickier to ride a stolen bike down the street if its screaming at you constantly? I have a motion sensor alarm that I only use at home when the bike is in the shed as I'm worried that in public it would be set off by the wind or someone bumping it or something and I don't want to be a nussance. I've often thought a security wire like motorbikes have would be good so the alarm only goes off if the wire is severed but I've not seen anything that fits the bill, also it would only work once the bike lock has been broken

[@boatsonfilm]

Hi Tom The solution to this is simple When I report my bike stolen Apple allows, police access to my AirTag location. Working with garage 529 for them to to recover individual bicycles or find concentrations of stolen bikes. Just the threat of police having GPS data on stolen bikes would be enough to deter most thieves.

[@tadnauseum]

Bike locker infrastructure might make a big impact on bike theft. Not a lot of bike lockers getting popped... at least not where I am. Is it different elsewhere? Imagine a ridiculous amount of lockers everywhere.

[@b.griffin317]

Like in every parking lot, indeed.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I think this can make a big impact, as long as the lockers are secure.

[@drewbachand1326]

I watched bike thieves break into a locker, take out the bike and then lock it in the locker NEXT to the broken locker! Those containers need work, and do not leave your bike in them over night >

[@AssBlasster]

​@@drewbachand1326 It's insane how they innovate. Recently a bike thief literally removed a secure looking bike rack from the ground to steal a cargo bike in downtown Portland.

[@Zoulstorm]

@@AssBlasster How? angle grinding through the entire rack?

[@stuarthirsch]

I was going to sell or give away my 30 year old+ all steel bike but now I will keep it as my urban general use bike. I'll lock it but if it is stolen it won't be a big deal. So if your worried about theft get a bike that is unattractive to a thief and inexpensive, or even given away. Shop Greg's list, thrift stores, even government excess. Or get a relatively cheap bike at Walmart or a discount store. Avoid pawn shops, you may be buying a stolen bike.

[@WrecklessSandwich]

I had an almost-new ebike stolen. Filed the police report for the insurance claim (Velosurance is great) and figured it was on a van to get fenced in a different state. The cops happened upon it in the posession of somebody in a park a MONTH later and absolutely trashed. I suspect it was a homeless encampment that they were hassling about something else. In those circumstances, there was no warrant or anything to worry about. A location tracker would have allowed it to be found much faster, possibly before a thousand dollars of damage were done to it. I won't make that mistake a second time.

[@rogerhart612]

Great video. Very informative 👏

[@simonkraemer3725]

I‘m very happy that my bike that I own for 6 years now wasn’t stolen, although it‘s really not the cheapest and I use it half of the week. I have two locks, one that’s really heavy - this helps, just because it would be too much of a hassle to steal it. Another strategy is to use a rental bike system. My bike would be long stolen if I went with it the the central station. Alternatively buy a crappy bike for such purposes. And then have an insurance - where I‘m from bikes are included in the home content insurance and these aren’t expensive and secure all your other belongings.

[@ryanhurst3859]

4:33 love the car horn honking right as you say you will never use another automobile metaphor 😆

[@robgrey6183]

I live in Jackson Hole. Lots of high end bikes of one sort or another. Some years ago the town was hit by organized bike thieves from Denver: came to town with several vans, grabbed all the bikes they could find that weren't locked, and hit the road. They were caught, I don't remember how.

[@ajwasthere]

We need secure bike parking options not an empty cage with nobody nearby.

[@floydcodlin8447]

One of my issues when it comes to the Cafe Racer style e-Bikes (that I'm considering getting) is locking with a reliable lock and then it getting stolen due to how it looks

[@daveofnf]

Fantastic video! I feel like advertising that your bike actually is registered is an important point that gets glossed over. Maybe putting a 529 sticker on the bike with a layer of clear coat so it can't be easily removed. Then local advertising to promote the registry so thieves will be immediately discouraged.

[@catrionatalbot]

The 529 shield cannot be removed once you gave put it on your bike.

[@andrewjohn4755]

Hi Tom, love your channel... you have a great voice, please don't drown it with background music.. just a thought... thank you for the wisdom you share. Best always!

[@yadi5940]

Wow amazing job to all thanks for sharing. I only thought it was a part of a song. So I must go and see this place myself with my husband but on a bike do they have something for bikes?

[@thedoctor1325]

Location tagging my bike has been something that has been on my mind but haven't tried. It seems better in Europe but there isn't something as good in the states. I use a cafe-lock and chain lock at all times, as well as an u-lock when locking up downtown. I have my bike registered on 529 and local police departments databases as well as insured for theft. Stickers for 529 and GPS tracking (Even if not true) sound like a great idea as well.

[@robgrey6183]

Europe is so much better, I'm surprised that more people don't emigrate to that paradise.

[@mariospenard5125]

Always interesting to listen to you! ❤

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Thanks for listening!

[@WolfzPain]

I would use some security alarm built-in bike in additional

[@funkosauruss]

This was part of the reason I bought a foldable bike, when I needed a bike for mostly commuting

[@nightembergrl]

Maybe a tracking device that has a loud awful alarm on it that can be activated from the app. The when you get in range you can set it off and at the very least make them sorry they have it. Also can narrow down the location.

[@foremanhaste5464]

For those that think they can go retrieve their bike if stolen, this can in many cases be a crime itself. It is called "Self-Help" in the USA and I would not be shocked if most other countries had similar laws. Best thing you can do is to wait until your bike is in a public place and contact police to examine the bike's serial number which you must have registered prior to the theft. Do not interact with the person at all. If you do the thief is better armed when police question them. They can simply say that you sold it to them and they can even describe you now. On the other hand, if they have no idea who you are they can not describe you or know your name which makes the idea that they bought it from you suspect at best. It is also for this reason that if you buy a used first check the bike registry to see that the seller is the person who registered the bike, document the transaction with video in a public place (video consent laws), save the sellers contact info, and register the bike in your name ASAP for which you will likely need the previous owners info if they registered the bike.

[@T13Nemo]

So, AirTag, when in a really close proximity, would turn into an arrow which could help with exact location. But yes, prevention is key

[@larry4674]

4:00 I don't understand why the fact that a tactic is after the fact as opposed to preventative is a reason not to use it. A multi-faceted approach is the best way to go. Multiple preventative measures will make many would-be thieves think twice before stealing a bike, but not all of them. For those that go ahead and steal the bike, post theft measures must be in place, assuming you want your bike back. And, if you catch the thief and charge him, that's one less thief doing this to other bike owners, at least for a while. The alternative is to lay back and be a victim, which is BS.

[@chad.breece]

The vanmoof bike hunters is definitely a marketing strategy but it’s built on top of their other safety features like kick locks, alarms, location tracking that all make it harder to steal in the first place. The “peace of mind” is less about bike hunters getting your bike back and more an insurance policy that no matter what they’ll give you a bike, whether its yours or a new one.

[@derekjolly3680]

Like you mentioned Tom, about that yellow device tag on the vertical tube, I would have to assume that a savvy bike thief is going to pry that off immediately and probably therefore be aware of it beforehand. Wouldn't those punks as a rule case for locks and difficulty of the job, and therefore really be zeroed in on that highly visible plate? They'd pry it off and chuck it into a parking lot.

[@tylerbrown4483]

Maybe they would, but a lot of theft prevention involves presenting the hardest target. Kind of like the theory that if you’re part of a group being chased by a grizzly bear, you don’t have to be the fastest, you just have to not be the slowest. Thieves are rational and practical people like anyone else. They still do risk/reward calculations on stuff. And an alarm that makes a crap ton of noise when tampered with is definitely a deterrent in that regard. They may pry it off and chuck it, but they still have to work on your lock for a couple of minutes while the thing makes a racket. Or smash it until it stops hollering. If you’re a thief and a $2500 bike with a security system, a D-lock, and a chain is tied up right next to a $750 bike that just has a thin cable lock, which one are you going to steal? Take the easy $750 or mess with a security system which may or may not alert the owner that the bike is being tampered with once you break it and will definitely make a ton of noise for a lot least a few seconds before setting to work on a lockup system that requires at least 5 minutes an angle grinder? Of course the thief may nick the first bike and then come back for the expensive one later. Assuming there aren’t police standing around taking a report from the owner of the cheaper bike. Bottom line, there’s nothing you can do to keep a determined criminal from taking anything you own. Even banks have had their vaults cleaned out by thieves relatively recently. You just have to try to make yourself the least appealing target and hope the right criminal doesn’t come along.

[@markmoreno7295]

529 is key. I do have a GPS tracker but it would not work initially. After much tinkering it now works. It is hidden in the bike. As you mentioned, it is not the first line of defense. A good bike lock is very important. I always park my bike where I can see it except in Japan where theft is low. The threat of theft absolutely leads me to ride less often.

[@GodzillasTodespranke]

I've a tracking & anti theft subscription from Cowboy for my C4, which has built-in GPS. I use a TexLock for short stops and additionally an ABUS lock if it will be a longer stop. Anything more would be overkill in my area.

[@dungnguye9511]

Have you ever considered trying the Chigur method going from room to room like in No Country For Old Men.

[@neino36]

I've thought through all of the questions you've raised and came to the conclusion that the only way to "Solve" my very nice bike being stolen is to make it a "Not so nice" bike to be stolen. So I've etched my name and phone number into the frame and customized it in a way that makes it "worse" but great for me. A chain lock is all I need for piece of mind. Unless I lose a leg, I don't intend to sell the bike. And if I ever do, I vow to repair the damage I've done. None of it is particularly hard to repair, but it makes it highly undesirable for any would be thief. They're already stealing it to avoid work, you think they're gonna steal a bike that requires work to sell?

[@godschild5587]

If you want to lock your bike for long time just remove the front wheel if its quick release and take the wheel with you, and use 2 or 3 locks on bicycle frame and rear wheel.

[@jolly7728]

Great job, but what about motion detectors that beep loudly if your bike is touched or moved slightly? Probably would work best if the bike owner is close by, say, for a cafe stop, for instance, and could hear the beeping. I just don’t leave my bike anywhere where I’m more than five seconds from it. The “best approach” is to build bikes much, much lighter than they currently are (but just as strong) and more foldable so you can put it in your backpack and do your grocery shopping. Another science fiction idea would be to make bikes invisible when parked to all but the owner. More science fiction: manufacture convertible wheels that can automatically convert from square shaped to round. More realistically, create a locking mechanism for one or more of the following -- the wheels, handlebars, and peddles.

[@louiekruger5759]

I dont know how it Is in the US, but here in Germany you can register your bike with the police. That means that the serial number of your frame gets logged with your name and they go on second hand bike markets etc and check the IDs if they are registered somewhere. Don't know what the chances are of getting your bike back, but you get a sticker on your bike that says that it is registered by the police. Dont know if it really helps but I left my bike for 1 1/2 years in Berlin at places with high theft rated and it never got stolen. It's also not a shitty bike. I think every bit that makes the life harder for the Thieve helps.

[@christianfournier6356]

“I don’t live in a frozen wasteland…” It sure looks like you do! And I was thinking that BEFORE the ice rink!

[@theredmonkey]

The trick is to use an Apple Air Tag as a red herring. Kinda hide it so it alerts the theif but have a good different one hidden elsewhere..

[@thebikejournal0303]

I like the Scout idea with the alarm. Not a fan of Airbags or Tiles. I've heard Google is coming out with a tracking device this fall. Rumor is that it will be better than AT's, Samsung tags,and Tile. I guess we will see if it's better for us bike commuters.

[@bearcubdaycare]

A company that I worked for had lids that covered the bicycle entirely. Bulky and costly, but effective. Bikes that were just tethered sometimes were stolen or had parts taken; less so for the lids. Maybe no costlier than a car parking spot.

[@inuendo6365]

Is there a security device or bike lock that has bank ink? It would seem like a decent deterrent not to get covered in blue, and I would assume less complex than trackers since bank ink has been around a long time

[@gbf111]

My preventative measure to stop my bike being stolen is having a dirt cheap bike

[@CoreyBrass]

I'm mildly annoyed you didn't interview an officer to ask him/her what they would do if you had the location of your bike, and it was something like an apartment building. Their answer could have helped us decide what we can do.

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

Yes, this was my question. I don't like the casual acceptance that all you need to do is get your bike back, all that will do is perpetuate bike theft and of course keep the bike finders in business. It's a criminal act, the chances are the thieves are engaged in other crimes and it needs to be properly investigated by the police, who are after all properly equipped and trained to go knocking on doors.

[@godschild5587]

One way is just wait in your car or somewhere and keep your eye on that apt until you see your bicycle with the thief but you never know how long you have to wait.

[@definitelynotacrab7651]

We really need to encourage cities to do more to combat bike theft, not being sure if it will still be there after running some errands is not a good feeling

[@DIY-DaddyO]

How about a big sticker that says “GPS tracker fitted” as a deterrent. Is one fitted or not? Also I have a tracker and a motion detector which triggers an alarm, but could a clever soul build an alarm that sends you a distress text to alert you your bike is being molested? What about a vibration detection SMS sending LOCK! One you can use on any bike you have.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

There are devices that will alert you if the bike is moved. The Knog Scout that I have in this video is also an alarm.

[@Zarrx]

It would be a bit of a niche video but could you do a video on good biking neighborhoods to live in Calgary (Or some of the best)? I've visited a few times from Toronto and considering moving in the next few years and would be interested seeing a video from your perspective. I'm mostly familiar with Hillhurst which I've enjoyed walking around and visit shops but would love to know more about Calgary.

[@High_Octane]

In a way I fell once word starts to spread amongst thieves that bikes can potentially be tracked they will be slightly less inclined to steal. Like bait bikes.

[@Emot10ns]

I could see a location tracker where you can activate a very loud alarm or have it say your name loudly so that you could hear it going off from outside and the cops could confirm it is indeed your bike.

[@asdfghyter]

my solution for preventing my bike from being stolen is to use a cheap (but functional), previously used slightly rusty bike that no-one would want to steal and locking it with an okay (but not great) lock it would of course be nice to be able to be confident in using an expensive bike (especially e-bikes), but at least using a cheap bike almost guarantees that it won't be stolen and also minimizes the cost if it is. even really cheap used bikes can work plenty well enough for most purposes

[@Natoflyboy]

This gave me so much to think about.

[@kmr8836]

FYI: It takes at least a few hours for an AirTag to start beeping or notify the thief's iPhone (if he has one). I get why Apple did what they did (for anti-stalking) but even the few hours seems pretty useful to me.

[@ANT-ER]

"...I don't live in a frozen waste land." Cuts to walking on a frozen sidewalk lol Awesome video btw.

[@MrBaptista]

The best prevention measure would be investing in a good quality lock. No, those foldable ones are not it. Brands like Litelok and Hiplok are manufacturing angle grinder proof U-Locks.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I can attest to the Litelok: kzbin.infoc5A-uFPq00k?feature=share

[@Accounting4Cycling]

Awesome video! As an Android user, Air Tags do almost nothing for me. We have one on our dog's collar and the annoying chime goes off when my SO is gone for more than a few hours. However! The Knog Scout, I know I could find it on my own, but do you have an affiliate link for it? (Rather you get something to support your work) It seems like a great deterrent to have on my e-bike!

[@galacticgalaxyonezerone7235]

Someone down the street at work also had a bike ripped from it’s locked post thrown in a truck and gone.

[@mlee6050]

as seeing videos you done, I wanted to ask for a new person into fixie, what price range should you look at? I am wondering if spend like 400 on a bike people say parts need to be replaced to be good or raise my budget so high as can get bike spec I want for over 1k

[@Angel_Bob_]

Wrap your handlebars in the aluminum tape but leave a ~2cm gap in the center, wire a few li-ion batteries together, connect negative to one section of tape, positive to a keyed switch, then to the other section of tape. If turned on, anyone who grabs the handlebar won't ever think about doing that again cause DC doesn't zap, it jolts the fuck outta you then just gives electrical burns... figure it's the least we can do to show how much we appreciate the attempt

[@DiogenesOfCa]

What about a Invoxia GPS tracker? You have to pay a subscription, but this will alert you if you bike is being moved.

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

DAMN! I live in Toronto, Canada and just got my first ebike-Radcity 5 plus and I want to keep it safe. I like it a lot! I got the abus back wheel lock with an extra chain and a Kryptonite New-U New York Fahgettaboudit with a cable link..gosh...big expenses really..I keep it in my garage overnight and I must lock it somewhere I try to keep it within my line of sight..gosh...too much to worry about i think...I will get the fake GPS on board labels and II will get an airtag and disable the internal speaker of course. It could just be an interesting experiment. In this city there is always an iphone etc near by. But I hope technology allows us good citizens to keep our bikes safe. Too bad that some people were/are using airtags to stalk/follow people. Come on guys..be good citizens...good humans....registering the bike is fine but I just want to keep my ebike safe. Thanks for the video

[@LesEauxSombres]

Sorry it's a bit off topic, but where did you get your jacket? I love it!!

[@travisruskin2024]

We also need air tags on catalytic converters nowadays

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Meh. Just ride a bike 😜

[@ren1643]

Here is what I want. I want a smart tracker. Basically you can set it to hold mode on your phone or watch. If it’s in this mode moving the bike enough will cause it to immediately send and alert, and if you decide have it trigger an alarm. Which can only be disabled by the owner through the app, maybe even fingerprint scanning on the tracker itself. This way you can immediately know if someone is even moving your bike. This would be very useful for shopping at a grocery store, or while you’re at work. If your bike is locked up, and you have the ability to be alerted of motion. It’s an extra level of security.

[@benmooredorencio6504]

Sir how many pawls does your commuter bike hub have?

[@ivan-j4l9x]

i used a samsung smarttag on my ebike in a spot that requires you to know where it is and remove it blind with a tool. there is also a bright yellow sticker saying that the bike has gps tracking. i also put a fake traker under the seat so that one is found before the real one. by saying it has gps is more likly to detter potential theif.

[@myk1200s]

I think good safety practices are a must.... But at the end of the day even if you are able to track down your Bike, are you willing to face possible confrontation, because each incident will be different.... Something to think about.

[@swikfors]

In the movie, No Country for Old Men, the villain was able to locate the bag of money with the tracer in it. Now I know that is Hollywood but the technology has been available since the 70’s & 80’s.

[@ttwwiisstteedd960]

The problem is, you have no axa lock. If its really heavy the theft use two,one on the front wheel, one on back wheel

[@dustyroads834]

Police will hardly go out of their way to recover or prosecute for a 30,000 dollar car so I wouldn’t expect them to even show up for a 2;500 dollar bicycle. So if you can track it to an approximate area it’s up to you to recover it yourself or like you said. You have to be proactive not reactive. Motorcycle’s had a steering lock that was effective.