This was just for the one night but got me thinking, run a 22mm gas pipe. Anchor it really securely so you’re not going to pull it off the wall or break the joints yourself. And if anyones mad enough to take an angle grinder to the lock onto (a clearly labelled) gas pipe be it on their own head. You’d want to be sure the garage was a separate building to your house….
Can't see why not, if any potential thief chooses to blow themselves up on their head be it. Maybe they were just cutting the bike away so they could steal the coper pipe for scrap value (people get killed stealing power cables and such like)
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If I was running the place there would be a defense to absolutely any crime of 'he shouldn't have been there on the first place', it would definitely cover injuries by things like that^
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As an aside, it's actually quite a good idea. I don't have mains gas but I could easily install some pipes and fittings that look it.
Legal maybe, but potentially very dangerous, and not just to thieving scum with an angle grinder.
Putting it on the Internet and indicating that you are aware of the risk will be interesting in court when someone sues you after they get blown up by said angle grinding scrote when they were walking past with their kids.
The cable would be cut in seconds though
Set of tree loppers straight through that copper pipe and you have no sparks, no bike and a big gas leak.
It's not gonna explode until sometime later and a spark or naked flame.
They'll cut through the pipe in a couple of seconds and be off with your bike. It isn't going to explode when they cut it, but it is going to fill your garage/house after the thief has already left.
They’ll cut through the pipe in a couple of seconds and be off with your bike. It isn’t going to explode when they cut it, but it is going to fill your garage/house after the thief has already left.
Yep could be a big surprise of the not nice type 🙂
Assuming ‘no one would be mad enough’ is a terrible strategy for anything, just whack a ground anchor in.
Why is the gas in your garage anyway, seems a weird place to have it?
I wouldn't do that for many reasons though, one, it's easy to get through, two, it might not be deemed immovable by the insurance company and three, it's dangerous, mainly for you and your household!
The cable would be cut in seconds though
this
Please don’t attach it to a real gas pipe. As said above, they will cut it with very little hassle and fill your garage and rest of the building with gas. Gas venting to atmosphere isn’t great - but it is infinitely preferable to escaped gas trapped within an enclosed space.
Guessing that used to be an external wall and the garage came later.
If the bike was stolen and the house did survive, it's possible your garage might get dug up to repair the supply to the meter. Really should have had a service alteration done when the garage was built.
I would read the T&Cs for your gas supply very carefully. It won't say "don't lock bikes to the pipes" but there'll be something generic about not taking any action that might lead to damage.
And if anyones mad enough to take an angle grinder to the lock onto (a clearly labelled) gas pipe be it on their own head. You’d want to be sure the garage was a separate building to your house…
Aside from the general madness of the idea, that is not how occupiers liability works in this country
Not my house. Was a carport in front of garage with doors moved to front of carport. Was one night in desperation for something half secure to lock it to.
(Anyway, What is an “immovable object” if not a pipe screwed to the wall? I tend to lock my Brompton to radiators in pubs - not much different in terms of “immovable”)
Having posted this I’m liking the “fake gas pipe” idea above as an addition to ground anchors etc. anything that might give someone pause at the last moment is worth a few quid.
Dont lose your key/forget code!
I had to cut one of those cables recently, took about 30 seconds with some tiny wire cutters, I knew they weren't great but I was surprised how easy it is.
It's a non issue.
I can't imagine it's actually "illegal", but it's not a brilliant idea either, Bike thieves aren't generally the sort that think twice about cutting a gas pipe.
I had to cut one of those cables recently, took about 30 seconds with some tiny wire cutters
Hacksaw takes about 5seconds.
I'd not want to be asleep in a building where a thief's actions could fill it with gas.
I'd be surprised if the gas board haven't got a clause in the supply contract about being reckless as to endangering the integrity of the their pipework.
I'd be concerned that it may be an issue with the terms of any home insurance.
And if anyones mad enough to take an angle grinder to the lock onto (a clearly labelled) gas pipe be it on their own head.
you are assuming the thief - can read, is able to see the clear label despite the dark / the bike being in the way, and understands the significance / danger of cutting a gas pipe with his tool of choice.
You’d want to be sure the garage was a separate building to your house….
There won’t be many separate garages that have a gas supply.
As above, they are going to be quite happy to find it locked to something as soft as a copper pipe, and will not be concerned about leaving it pumping out gas while they piss off with your bike.
Surely the ankle of a paranoid crack head with a crossbow and a machete would be better?
To everyone pointing out you can bite through the cable within 2 seconds with your teeth - yeah, duh, but presumably that's just for the wheels. The D-lock also goes through the chainstay.
This might be legal but its pretty stupid.
Would you put a D-lock around the main incoming power cables to your property? or the water supply?
I'd suggest you just bolt a D-ring into the floor - rather than risk a gas leak/fire/explosion which could injure a number of people.
Just make sure you lock to the incoming side of the meter or your gas bill will be huge when some scrote chops the pipe!
Why is the gas in your garage anyway, seems a weird place to have it?
Mines in my garage as thats where the boiler is, hell of a lot of effort and money to move it somewhere else. Although it would free up a lot of space in the garage.
Wouldnt be using it to secure my bike though, ground anchor mounted on the wall, and big f off security chain.
Slightly unrelated but I saw a labourer cut through a live 4” gas main with a petrol cutter on site once, surrounding 3 streets were evacuated and closed for a while 😂
I didn’t think copper sparked too much when you cut it but I haven’t cut any copper pipes with a grinder and nor would I be willing to try!