They stole my bike!
Well, this week-end was eventful.
First I finally got an iPod connection kit installed in my 350Z. I went with the Neo iOn because it works with the factory Bose audio system and allows the iPod to be controlled from the driving wheel. I bought it online and went to the local Best Buy to get it installed. I dropped the car off in the morning, walked back home and took my bike for a little riding around (for what would turn out to be our last ride together. Sniffle, sniffle.)
The weather was gorgeous, so I went to Golden Gate Park to try out my new macro lens. They had a butterfly exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers which turned out to be perfect subjects for my experimentation.
My back has been sore on and off since my trip to Egypt in December. It had been flaring up again, so later in the afternoon I went to get a massage, which did help for a while. I finally got a call that my car was read and biked back to pick it up.
I unclipped my computer and light from the bike, and carefully secured it to the metal post of an 8-foot chain-link fence, in a well lighted, public area of the Best Buy parking lot. I then drove the car back.
A few hours later, I walked back to the Best Buy to get my bike back. At this point, you probably see where this is going. My bike was gone. Now, mind you, they did not break the Kryptonite U-lock I had, which a good news, since the last time I had my bike stolen, almost two years ago to the day, they did cut through my security cable. However, they tore down the fence completely so they could slide my bike from the pole and get away with it. Now, that seems to me to be a bit of a disproportionate effort, particularly since this was a low-end bike. Nice and comfortable for sure, but I can’t imagine it has that big of a resale value. Maybe it just goes to show I don’t have a criminal mind or that I’m too lazy. I’m not sure.
So, at this point. I’m not in a very good mood. But what are you going to. Apparently, there’s 12 to 14 bikes stolen in SF every day. SF is th US city with the highest per-capita incidence of bike theft, with only New-York ahead. Apparently, there’s a big underground economy in bike theft, where bikes gets stolen in San Francisco and sold in Oakland, while bikes stolen in the East Bay end up in San Francisco.
More for the experience than in the hope to actually ever see my bike again, I went to the police department and filed a report. I very much doubt it will serve much purpose. The police officers I gave my declaration to seemed to be very midly interested. I can understand this would not be at the top of the list of criminal activities to pursue, but still…
Anyway, since I really have to come to depend on my bike to commute to work, I went to REI and bought a replacement. Because I’m trying so hard to figure out a positive spin to this sad story, I’ve actually calculated that the money I’m saving by not driving to San Jose every day more than offsets the cost of a new bike every couple of years. Sigh…
Since I needed to cheer myself up, I went to take a few pictures of the Golden Gate. Looking at the majestic cityscape at night always warm my heart, even when I think of the misguided souls stealing bike at this very moment…
RSS Feed
Hello – we are so sorry to hear about your loss! That stinks! Unfortunately, you aren’t alone – when a thief wants the bicycle badly enough, they take the path of least resistance. In this case, the fence.
One of the proper lock up tips we have on our site is: “Lock to a fixed, immovable object like a parking meter or permanent bike rack. Be careful not to lock to items that can be easily cut, broken or removed. Be careful that your bike cannot be lifted over the top of the object to which it is locked.”
It shouldn’t be necessary to say that or even think it when you are locking up a bike, but it is.
The rest of the tips are at http://www.kryptonitelock.com in the ‘product’ section. Hope they help.
We wish you years of happy biking with your new bike, Arno.
Donna Tocci
Kryptonite
I hope that’s a new Kryptonite lock you’re using.
Twist a Pen, Open a Lock
Actually, I would have gladly used another Kryptonite lock, since this was one was clearly beefy enough to foil attacks from the thieves. Furthermore, I understand that Kryptonite has since then corrected the design problem referenced in the Wired article.
Discovered your blog through John Gruber’s Daringfireball.net – and ‘cos I’m a Mac afficionado. Then I read this about the bike stealing deal – and realized another link – I work at REI on the East Coast part time. So, which bike did you buy?????
-Stuggy
I got myself a nice Scott Sportster. Love it.