<p>Okay, I’m seriously really scared of getting my bike stolen. I have a beach cruiser that I’m going to take. Anyway, I bought a U-Lock, but I’m still afraid of my bike being stolen. Really, how often do bikes get stolen at Davis? I’m living on campus in Tercero. And, do people usually leave their bikes outside over night or do they bring it inside (like, into their dorm rooms)?
Also, any general tips on preventing bike theft would be helpful. :)</p>
<p>first off a beach cruiser is one of the least likely bikes to get stolen, unless it’s an obviously easy target.
i had a road bike that got stolen after my U lock broke and I had to use my cable lock. this was in the middle of freshman year
there is bike parking outside; the only people i’ve seen bring bikes inside are people like my roommate who was on the cycling team and had two bikes. his cycling bike was intense, like $4k and lighter than air.
general tips… i don’t know. U locks are safer than cable locks. so far with my new bike that i got about a year ago, i’ve used U locks on campus and when i go home i bring it into my house, as do all of my housemates.
but honestly if you just have a generic beach cruiser it probably won’t be targeted in the first place if you have a decent lock.</p>
<p>My bike just got stolen over weekend. I’m still ****ed off right now. This has never happened to me before. But it was my fault for leaving my bike near amtrak station for days. I should have brought it home. So general tip is just try to not leave your bike outside(street) over night. GOOD LUCK!</p>
<p>Best tip I can give is that there is no point in buying a nice U-lock unless you use it properly and relentlessly. Never lean your bike against a building while you just run inside for a minute. Never lock the bike without locking it to something. Never lock your bike to a tall, skinny pole because people can and will lift your bike, lock and all, right off of the pole no matter how tall it is. (Some thieves have even removed “no parking” signs in order to lift a bike off the pole, and then put the sign back on once they have the bike. The bolts are very easy to remove; of course, this happens at night or in out-of-the way places where it won’t be noticed.)</p>
<p>Use your U-lock to simultaneously secure the frame and a wheel whenever possible. Rear wheels tend to be more valuable but also more difficult to steal. If your front wheel is quick-release and you can’t lock it along with your frame to a solid stand or anchor, pop the wheel off and bring it with you.</p>
<p>Bikes get stolen incredibly often at davis, but this is largely due to the huge number of people who have bikes. Whenever there are a lot of bikes, there will be a lot of poorly secured bikes to steal. The majority of bikes stolen either are not locked, are locked but not locked to anything, or are locked with only a chain or cable lock. The only time I would feel safe with only a chain or cable lock is when I’m locking my bike in broad daylight, in a very busy area. Even with a U-lock, try not to leave your bike locked overnight anywhere that is open to random people passing through, because U-locks can be picked or forced apart with leverage. It just takes longer and is more easily noticed than quickly cutting a chain/cable lock (which takes only an instant).</p>
<p>Any bike can be stolen in any situation, but the combination of a strong lock, good lock use, and a good location is the most efficient way to make theft very difficult, and therefore unlikely.</p>