One week in and the bike was stolen already!

<p>Son has been at school for one week and his bike is GONE. Never even got a chance to ride it on campus. Now with hind sight we think we should have painted it some outrageous color to make it very undesirable. Does anyone think that, along with one of those U shaped locks would work?</p>

<p>Did he lock it? On any campus, thefts are possible. I had my bike stolen when I was in college more than 30 years ago.</p>

<p>Husband spent the summer in NYC subleting a Columbia apartment. He parked his bike on Columbia's campus and someone stole his seat and bike computer. This kind of thing happens all over, not just in the big cities.</p>

<p>My son's bike was stolen early last year. My sister gave him his cousin's bike because they were moving, so the replacement didn't cost us anything. We got a way better lock, one that is a cable that takes a key rather than a combination. Most of the kids set their combination 1 mnumber off so they don't have to work too hard to get it unlocked. Such was the case of my son. He's had this bike for close to a year without any further problems. Tell your kids to spin their locks or use a key. Why make it too easy to steal?</p>

<p>We just bought insurance through College Student Insurance. $4000 worth of coverage costs $94 per year. Covers bike, computer, cel phone, tv, etc. Figured it was worth it since our son sometimes is careless with his things.
Also included "lojack" type software for his computer. If I bought the software through Dell it was $83. I mention it because the CSI literature talks about what your homeowners insurance doesn't cover. Apparently homeowners insurance Might cover some stuff. You might want to check it out. Bummer re: bike.</p>

<p>i am SOOO getting that insurance for D next fall....</p>

<p>Our S's campus had a bike and electronics registration table set up on move-in day, which may be a useful deterrent since his campus is so small. </p>

<p>He has his bike locked, about 3 feet from his front door, and he has a cable lock for his laptop. If he uses them both, it will prevent the random opportunity theft that's probably most common on college campuses.</p>

<p>Hmm.so the school "registered" students bikes and electronics? Never heard of that...the larger schools don't do it, you are on your own.</p>

<p>It may have been the campus police (I didn't notice if it was campus or city police) - they took serial numbers, and may have engraved something on the electronics. </p>

<p>He did his stuff after we left campus, so I'm fuzzy on the details, other than S calling to find out where the serial # on his bike was as he registered, but thought it was a good idea, as extra prevention (or to improve the odds of recovering it, if stolen, probably more accurately).</p>

<p>Maybe if you paint the men's bike pink it might help.:)</p>

<p>I have noticed that some places that had campus bikes painted them some bright color - like painting the entire bike yelly including the wheels and tires. It was pretty hideaous but it still worked.</p>

<p>UCLA (not known for bikes) has just installed bike lockers that enclose the bikes but there aren't many of them yet - "The lockers allow cyclists to keep their bicycles safe inside perforated steel boxes."</p>

<p>My older son had two bikes stolen over three years and didn't bother to get another after that. He kept his locked. One had a chain lock that used a key; the other had the u-shaped lock. Neither appears to have been effective. They weren't fancy bikes either. I don't think either one cost over $100 new. Other than keeping it in your room, it don't think there's any foolproof way to keep it safe.</p>

<p>We live a block from Colorado College and we have learned one thing regarding bikes -- </p>

<p>but a bike at the local pawn shop (ours are loaded with great bikes at all prices -- must be kids getting rid of them at the end of the year for a few bucks). you can buy a good mountain bike for $30.</p>

<p>Keep it locked, do not install a bike computer and take the seat in with you (most everyone does here in colorado springs -- I don't know if it is because of the sun/rain ruining them or theft).</p>

<p>I noticed that son took the seat in with him to his room when visiting this summer. Must be one way to handle things.</p>

<p>My son has a cheapo Schwin 3 speed which he never has to lock. And if it goes, who cares. Just look for another $10 yard sale buy!!!! BTW, he got the Schwin on garbage day for free 3 summers ago.</p>

<p>my D brought her really nice mountain bike back here- but I bought a pretty decent bike at a yard sale- her roommate had a custom bike that he kept in his room and a bike that he rode around campus and town</p>

<p>Stickers all over your bike work- and don't bring too nice of a bike to school
you might also want to read this article about picking a bike lock with a bic pen
<a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/191201_bikelocks17.html?source=rss%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/191201_bikelocks17.html?source=rss&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>her school also has old bikes that are just left around campus for students to ride back and forth & a bike lottery for off campus students
some bikes are left alone, but for some reason others are more popular</p>

<p>My son also had his bike stolen at UCSD while it was locked to the outside of the dorm. We bought him a used Trek and assumed that we would probably never see the bike again after we moved him into the dorms. The best thing we did was purchase dorm insurance from National Student Services Inc. (<a href="http://www.nssinc.com)%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.nssinc.com)&lt;/a>. The housing office recommended this company. The annual premium was only $50 with a $25 deductable. Knowing our son we figured that something would happen to his stuff. Since we opted for the replacement cost option we received a check for the cost for a brand new trek and a new lock. The claim process was simple - we sent in a police report, pictures of his old bike, and printout of webpages showing the full replacement cost for the new bike model and lock. The company even factored in tax in the replacement cost. It took about 1 month to receive the money after we submitted the claim.</p>

<p>I highly recommend purchasing dorm insurance because it's only $50/yr and students have some expensive items (PC, Ipod, camera, bike, etc) in their possession. There are so many people meandering into the dorm suites and rooms, and often doors are left open unintentionally.</p>

<p>When I was in school in the 70s, I bought a used "clunker" bike with no speeds. Don't remember whether I ever locked it, but it was $20. After I graduated, I sold it for the same $20. Did the same thing for grad school. Never had any problems with theft or anyone wanting any parts from my bike. My BF in grad school had a nice bike & kept it in his room, dorm or office (he was a teaching assistant) & never had any problems either.</p>

<p>My S's bike stolen when living of campus. CSI insurance very helpful. DO have your child file police report. Also, Keep a copy of original sales receipt (we didnt, nor did bike store)</p>

<p>My son's bike was stolen on day three last year. He had it locked to a 6' high, wide board picket fence. The thieves removed the picket it was locked to -slid the board out - and away they went.</p>

<p>I had a garage sale 1-speed bike in college, and never locked it. One day it was stolen, but the next day it was returned to the same spot.</p>

<p>DT123:
....with a 5-dollar bill taped to the seat, as a contribution to your 'Upgrade to a 5-speed' fund? :)</p>