I became that statistic last night. Staying in my van at a popular MTB campsite with my 10yr old. The campsite does have a lock up for bikes but I didn't have the code to hand, stayed there loads of times before and felt pretty complacent about it, thought "nah it'll be fine." Strapped the bikes onto the bike rack and went to bed. Heard some knocks around 4am, actually opened the door and poked my head out but couldn't see anything odd going on.
Camp manager knocked on about 8:30 to let me know there'd been thefts and my bike had gone. My daughter's was still there, maybe they had a conscience and chose not to steal a childs bike!?
Anyway, he showed me the CCTV and there were 5 lads, just wandered around, tried mine then wandered off, got another guys (locked to picnic bench with 4 locks which they cut through) then came back and took mine. Looked to be young, my daughter said "he's the same size as me" about one of them!
Apparently they were there a couple of nights before and took a pair of yeti's worth 15k.
Spoke to a local bike shop and they said it happens a lot, big event in town, gang drivers on from local city knowing there'll be stuff around.
Not after sympathy, my own stupid fault, plenty opportunity to prevent it which I didn't take. So just a reminder to be vigilant, especially if your bike is outside!
Don't want to name the campsite specifically as it's not his fault and he's worried about it affecting business. Like I say, been there loads of times and will definitely go back (once I've managed to fork out for a new bike!!)
Bike was black specialized levo sl with pink dmr deathgrips.
Ah man, that sucks.
I don't suppose you're on FB are you?
There's a stolen bikes page and a lot of the MTB groups are happy to share posts to try and help locate them. If you're not, post a picture and I'd be happy to stick a post on for you.
Name the campsite. £15k of Yetis were taken a couple of nights previously and they didn't inform you that there were bike thefts in the campsite.
Sucks that your bike has gone though
I'm guessing it was Peebles?
Name the campsite. £15k of Yetis were taken a couple of nights previously and they didn't inform you that there were bike thefts in the campsite.
Sucks that your bike has gone though
that puts a differnt spin on it, especially if it is popular with riders. Which makes a good target for the little shitheads.
I guess that's potentially a bit shitty, but that info came from another random person on the campsite so I'll defer in case it's not true!
Police were surprisingly keen to be involved, they arranged to meet me on my onward trip (we're on a little road trip) to take a statement and they took the plastic ratchet strap which was cut in case they can match it to shears (like finger prints) should they stay someone down the line!! Not if a long shot that I reckon.
Guess best possible outcome is it turns up in a warehouse or a shipping container in a few months time and gets returned that way. Was able to provide the serial number.
Seems this is the only photo I can find with the relevant pink grips! Just realised they also got my bloody Howies water bottle! Sad times (as my daughter would say.) 
Like I say, just putting the story out there as a reminder this stuff happens, do what you can to stop it happening to you!
Inside job,camp manager and staff looking for a bit extra?They wouldn't want you to ruin it for them by putting other victims of.
When you say strapped did you mean they were locked.
Inside job,camp manager and staff looking for a bit extra?They wouldn't want you to ruin it for them by putting other victims of.
Nah, he's a nice fella, not in his interest to ruin his business.
When you say strapped did you mean they were locked.
Only with the locking mechanism on the bike rack, so basically no, not really locked! Freely admit my own idiocy.
Oh well, hopefully you can make an insurance claim.Better not tell them it was unlocked mind.
Better not call it idiocy or Bruce Wee will turn up and chastise you!
Well that sucks. On a positive, at least it was only an ebike (I jest!).
a few years ago a group of us did Ard Moors. We put our bikes in my mates van (almost didn’t) and there were a number of thefts that night. From bike racks mostly.
the thief’s know there are events going on, or the hot spots. To have the minerals to do it with folks sleeping a few feet away is far beyond my comprehension!
Hope by some miracle they get caught and then hung, drawn and quartered!
Sorry about your theft. Thieves need a proper shoeing.
I'll put 2 and 2 together and get 5 but...
A few bike theft at campsite around Peebles at weekend. Police have footage of scrotes wandering around with bolt croppers.
It is a real issue and police are active on it but on the scale of things they have to deal with bikes are quite low, fortunately the Peebles worthies probably attend the same lodge as the senior officers. So, noisy bairn gets the teet.
There have been some interesting high speed chase stuff on the roads late at night with bike thieves. They are organised and not local. As noted above bike locks are weak so not an idea to leave them in the open.
If they are from the North East they will be given Suspended prison sentences.No room at the inn at the moment.
It's too late for you now Richard, but putting your bikes and any other relevant valuables on immobilise.com costs nothing. It's linked to police recovered property records if you report stuff as stolen and you can buy security stickers and chips too if for high value kit.
Reminds me, I need to update my records on there.
As noted above bike locks are weak so not an idea to leave them in the open.
I was at a sportive event in Limburg, South Netherlands over the weekend. Around 15,000 participants split over road, gravel and mtb. I couldn't believe the lack of concern for theft. All the rides finish in a massive party venue and the bikes go into a huge parking field whilst you go and party like its 1999 - I estimated over 10,000 bikes, most 2k to 5k - 25 million euro at least!!!! Not a single lock. All you needed to get in and out was a matching number on your back and on your bike....not hard to fake.
We were staying in a hotel nearby and when i got up in the morning there were bikes everywhere - S-works SL8 just propped up in the hedge next to our van (our bikes were all locked in the van).....maybe bike theft is more a British thing?
I always think that at ardrock, all the bikes just left in the racks whilst people go get food/beer. You could pop some MTB gear on and just walk in, pick a bike, ride out and repeat. I know the last ardrock I did bikes were pinched from the camping field overnight.
@tthew thanks I'll check that out for future
On a positive note, the lady at the next campsite had an 
old Gary fisher lying around she's let me borrow so me and the little one can go for a poodle, although it's pissing down all day apparently (in Aviemore now.)
You could pop some MTB gear on and just walk in, pick a bike, ride out and repeat.
That happened at Richmond Park where a guy in cycling kit sat at the cafe, drinking a coffee, waited until there was a bike he liked the look of, popped his helmet on, took the bike and rode off to a parked van a couple of car parks over.
A large scale event I used to work on had the bikes stored in a fenced off set of racks with one entry / exit point controlled by security who would check your wristband and the number on the bike. In the years I worked on it, we only lost one bike when someone sneaked into the campsite at night, climbed over the fencing avoiding the patrolling security guards and took the nearest bike.
I believe it's happened at Peaslake as well, bloke hanging about in MTB kit, waiting for something nice to be left unattended.
It certainly happened at one of the 24 hour races a long time ago, the site in the West Mids. iirc. A few went then, not all overnight, just brazenly walking off with the bike, and, easily, blending in.
Life in a Collapsed Society.South Netherlands much less so.
How was the Gary Fisher?🙂
It got us out on a spin round loch an eilein so ticked the box!
Started claim process with insurers, sounds promising at the moment so fingers crossed
Made it onto Police Scotland’s social media. Assuming this was the campsite at Glentress itself?
I believe it's happened at Peaslake as well, bloke hanging about in MTB kit, waiting for something nice to be left unattended.
Being the criminal mastermind I am, I was thinking the same at BPW last week. Could sit on a bench and eyeball bikes being left all over the place, hop on one and be down the road and out the park before the owner had come out the shop/reception.
happened at Coed-y-brenin about 10 years ago. someone took a bike (not from our group) from outside the shop and rode off down the hill to the red bull trail where it crosses the road.
while we all searched the carpark for dodgy vans, they were probably already loaded up and off down the road.
Being the criminal mastermind I am, I was thinking the same at BPW last week. Could sit on a bench and eyeball bikes being left all over the place, hop on one and be down the road and out the park before the owner had come out the shop/reception.
In that sort of situation I wonder if a security tie or something that just stopped the rear wheel from turning would be a low weight/hassle disincentive. Someone pushing something dragging its wheel or carrying the bike for no obvious reason might stand out a lot more.
Being the criminal mastermind I am, I was thinking the same at BPW last week. Could sit on a bench and eyeball bikes being left all over the place, hop on one and be down the road and out the park before the owner had come out the shop/reception.
Something similar happened recently. iirc they strolled off, put it in a van and drove off before anyone noticed a thing.
OTOH I remember bikes being stolen off racks at an Ae Forest SDA 20 years ago. I suppose there’s been an increase (possibly) in line with the increase in rider numbers and the increase in value of bikes (driven by e-bikes)
Awful to hear this. I try to be super vigilant riding back home and not have anyone follow me. Typically, the last time I came home, all super careful about not being followed, I was putting the bike in the garage which you can’t really see from the road, when a chap strode up to me and asked if I wanted my drive jetwashing. Now, I’m not being paranoid or anything, but the bike will be going in the cellar while away for the foresable. Garage is alarmed to the hilt and the e-bike has the Bosch flow alarm, GPS tracking and lock on it, but it won’t stop someone trying who doesn’t know all that!
Sorry for your loss, OP.....
It must be so easy at many of the bike parks to jump on a bike and roll off down the hill without anyone batting an eyelid, especially if you're geared up with helmet and pads, etc.
I knew one guy who used to take a small, tiny padlock and lock it through the disc in the rear too prevent his bike being ridden off. Not a bad idea. Much easier than lugging a proper lock with you and essentially just as effective.
Yeah that's my levo on the police Scotland post up there. There was actually a fourth bike stolen as another guy had his taken the same night as mine, he must not have reported it to the police though.
Got the insurance claim off the ground, seemed fairly positive to begin with, I have extra bike insurance up to a specific value which is fine, but they still think I own a cotic jeht, not the levo. I guess that's going to be a problem and they won't pay. Although a bit mean spirited I think (yes I'm naive!) What difference does it make what I say the bike is called if the value is the same, they don't ask for proof of purchase at the point of insuring. I should just say "cotic jeht? No that must be a spelling mistake .... It's S P E C I A L I Z E D L E V O."
Anyway, hired a bike so me and the little one could ride at Dalbeattie today. The bike was awful, got those coil suntour forks like a Carrera, and Dalbeattie was a bit underwhelming tbh, but we had a great day out pootling round and that's all that matters!
Hope the insurance pay up.They tend to need a bit of a push before coughing up.
I knew one guy who used to take a small, tiny padlock and lock it through the disc in the rear too prevent his bike being ridden off. Not a bad idea. Much easier than lugging a proper lock with you and essentially just as effective.
I'm surprised we don't see more small lightweight alarmed disclocks available specifically for MTBs and eMTBS
Quick to deploy and ideal for a cafe stop etc. Also would have woken up the OP during the night when his bike was lifted. Most motorbike ones are the wrong size for mtb discs and too heavy duty.
Interesting thread, sorry for your bike loss op.
I'm of the view nothing will stop those who have driven across country with the express aim of nicking bikes (or similar). We lock bikes whenever we are stationary onto the rack, we put them into the vehicle and throw a dark blanket over them. I do think criminals target 'rich pickings' where cyclists gather.
I have a lightweight/3 seconds delay/might choose another bike lock we take most places with us. Bikes get locked at cafes, at supermarket stops etc. That said, I just don't think any lock can really stop them.
I do leave bikes with abandon high on the hills, and also believe what cannot be seen will not go. Yesterday we went for 30 mins walk leaving the bikes completely hidden behind an old ruined building at the side of a road.
I'm convinced they will go at some point, and so I've got half decent insurance...
A Knog Scout would work on a bike on a bike rack, but I'd always lock it too.
I used to have an attack alarm attached if a cake stop was in the offing, one with a strung pin that pulled out.
Sorry about the bike but glad you're still making the most of your holiday.
Sandy Hills is a great spot.
I knew one guy who used to take a small, tiny padlock and lock it through the disc in the rear too prevent his bike being ridden off. Not a bad idea. Much easier than lugging a proper lock with you and essentially just as effective.
Have to be a little bit careful with that one in case it wrecks the caliper as the thief tries to ride off. Obviously doesn't stop the bike being carried either but it's much better than nothing!
Even just leaving the bike in the hardest gear can be helpful.
If it's an e-bike, most come with lockable motors now. Try and move it and it seizes everything solid and sounds an alarm.
