crime increase/sign of the times.

do not think i have ever seen as many posts on here, with regards to stolen bikes as there has been of late.
is it a sign of the times?
with the state of the economy is it going to get worse?

i sell cctv at work, and our sales of it are booming at present.
looks like everyone is being affected some way or another.

The main point is bikes are so expensive, and due to the current recession hitting a lot of people, people cant afford them, but want them, so where there is demand there is a supply situation, below cost value, same with anything.

If the ones who buy a nice bike cheap got a fine and the bike confiscated and then re sold at auction, it may just perhaps go somewhere to slowing down the huge rise in bike theft

Don’t know about the social factors, but I reckon thieves are cottoning on to just how lucrative bike theft can be.

Ignore the frame which is traceable & sod the mucky transmission bits – 5 minutes with a couple of allen keys and a pair of pliers – cut the gear cables, whip off the bars/forks/controls, unbolt rear caliper & take out the wheels – job done, could be close to £1000 in s/h parts 😕

Interesting post Ton, I have been thinking about this a lot recently which is a sad sign of the times we live in.

So much so that the first thing I do every morning is go to the window, look down the garden to make sure the shed door is still on its hinges and not been broke in to.

I have some very expensive bikes and it really worries me that bike theft appears to be on the rise and the thieving scum will almost go to any levels to steal our pride and joy.

I take every precaution I can and I’m determined not to be a victim. These scum need hunting down and severely punishing for their crimes.

The one thing I do want I do is get some decent CCTV sorted out. Can you send me some details of the stuff you sell Ton?

Is bike theft actually increasing?

ton – Member
do not think i have ever seen as many posts on here, with regards to stolen bikes as there has been of late.

Sorry, merely anecdotal at best…

So much so that the first thing I do every morning is go to the window, look down the garden to make sure the shed door is still on its hinges and not been broke in to.

See, my opinion is that in these times, the best way of stopping this is by not leaving X thousand pounds worth of bikes in a shed at the end of the garden.

If they are expensive and desirable and easily knickable and easily disposable, then FFS put them away somewhere safe.

I have never, ever, ever left any of my bikes anywhere but in my house. Even when I lived in a two up, two down tiny terraced house with wife and 3 kids.

Al, keep your fingers crossed that they dont get you mate.

Seems to me that the rise of social media, websites, forums and such means we’re more likely to hear about the crimes that happen. And apparently more people are riding bikes than in recent years, particularily in population hotspots which are also theft hotspots (in London, reported bike thefts have risen less than the number of bike journeys).

All in all, fear of crime’s only vaguely related to incidence of crime.

The one thing I do want I do is get some decent CCTV sorted out. Can you send me some details of the stuff you sell Ton?

So the poster who raised the issues happens to sell anti-crime stuff – I smell a rat!

Northwind – Member
Seems to me that the rise of social media, websites, forums and such means we’re more likely to hear about the crimes that happen. And apparently more people are riding bikes than in recent years, particularily in population hotspots which are also theft hotspots (in London, reported bike thefts have risen less than the number of bike journeys).

All in all, fear of crime’s only vaguely related to incidence of crime.+1

The same is true of most crimes.

Seems to me that the rise of social media, websites, forums and such means we’re more likely to hear about the crimes that happen.

Whilst I think this is true, I also believe these mediums are changing crime itself. As said above, it can be lucrative. Whereas at one time the only opportunity most people had to pass on stolen bikes was for about £20 to their mates. It’s so easy to sell now, and to sell fairly anonymously to any part of the world.

Anecdotal, yep. But worth discussing.

All in all, fear of crime’s only vaguely related to incidence of crime.

+1

Crime generally goes down year on year, yet ask anyone whether they feel safer this year or last year they’ll answer that things have never been worse.

ton – Member
Al, keep your fingers crossed that they dont get you mate.

with the stupid stick? 😀 See various posts above this…

Cycling is massively more popular than it used to be.
More bikes about + increasingly high profile = more thefts.

And yes, bikes are easily ringed, can be exchanged for other dodgy stuff to move them out of the area they were knicked from and are increasingly seen as a fashion accessory by the local yoot.

Plus they tend to be a convenient was of getting around, specially if you’re too young to drive. 🙂

See, my opinion is that in these times, the best way of stopping this is by not leaving X thousand pounds worth of bikes in a shed at the end of the garden.
If they are expensive and desirable and easily knickable and easily disposable, then FFS put them away somewhere safe.
I have never, ever, ever left any of my bikes anywhere but in my house. Even when I lived in a two up, two down tiny terraced house with wife and 3 kids.

Sorry I didn’t explain fully. It is technically a shed but not what most people think of.
It’s a home built monster and probably a lot more secure than my house. Very Heavy duty hinges, lots of locks and metal plating protecting the door. 1 Inch thick glass with special tape on so no one can see whats inside.
Alarm etc. I have made it as hard as possible for someone to break in but it’s always possible.

It’s pretty big has power so I’ve considered moving in there lol.

The down side to it is to thieving scum it’s obvious it doesn’t just contain a lawn mower and a few garden tools.

Sorry I didn’t explain fully. It is technically a shed but not what most people think of.
It’s a home built monster and probably a lot more secure than my house. Very Heavy duty hinges, lots of locks and metal plating protecting the door. 1 Inch thick glass with special tape on so no one can see whats inside.
Alarm etc. I have made it as hard as possible for someone to break in but it’s always possible.

It’s pretty big has power so I’ve considered moving in there lol.

The down side to it is to thieving scum it’s obvious it doesn’t just contain a lawn mower and a few garden tools.

But you still check every morning that it hasn’t been broken into.

I rest my case, M’lud.

I do admit to finding it odd when people pop up, share the details of a lost bike with the ‘community’ and pop off again.

There I said it! Never would begrudge it, but it’s an observation nonetheless.

Then, when mine went I got some specific advice from police to post here and few other places.

Maybe that explains it and apparent increasing frequency of stolen posts?

Not much else at £2k nominal value you can roll off on and fence so easily though I guess..