Crime is killing the sport we love

[Ozzie NL]

 

 

 

 

So the crime is not more dangerous just more violent?

 

Fair comment. Meant crime is not more prevalent. Agree violence associated is a problem. BUT in no way enough of an issue to want to live there again

[Ozzie NL]

 

 

 

 

So the crime is not more dangerous just more violent?

 

Fair comment. Meant crime in terms of cycling is not more prevalent here

[Ozzie NL]

Oops apologies for double posting

[Mr X]

Fair comment. Meant crime in terms of cycling is not more prevalent here

 

My boss from the Netherlands, when I told him about the crime in SA, he laughed and said in his city there are bicycles floating around not owned by anyone but that are used around the city by anyone and not needed to be locked, like communal bicycles. This would not be possible in SA. Why? Because that bike will get stolen properly in less than half a day.

[Ozzie NL]

He must be from Amsterdam. Was an experiment called white bikes which failed.......because the bikes were stolen

[gummibear]

My boss from the Netherlands, when I told him about the crime in SA, he laughed and said in his city there are bicycles floating around not owned by anyone but that are used around the city by anyone and not needed to be locked, like communal bicycles. This would not be possible in SA. Why? Because that bike will get stolen properly in less than half a day.

 

True story that.

 

All the bikes are pretty crappy commuter bikes and not worth much.Bikes are sometimes parked in rows up to 20.When you get there and yours is to deep to reach you just take one that you fancy.

[gummibear]

Bike theft in the UK.

 

What's Britain's most stolen bike? The answer will surprise you

Not carbon bling, but mid-range flat-bar commuter bikes turn out to be thief magnets

How likely is your bike to get stolen? Put it like this: if you commute on a midrange Specialized or Trek, you might want to invest in the biggest, beefiest, most bad-ass lock you can get your hands on.

At the end of April, the Metropolitan Police warned that bike thieves were targeting less distinctive mid-range bikes, rather than helping themselves to high-end blingocipedes.

The explanation, according to Inspector Dave Dixon from the Met’s Cycle Task Force, is that they’re easier to sell and harder for the owners to trace.

“If they nick a customised bike it is very hard to sell,” he said. “It’s like bike porn to cyclists and if they see one they’re all around it, and also cyclists are very active on social media so it’s likely to be spotted.

“A bike like a Specialized Allez – there are hundreds of them and thieves know they can shift them quite easily.”

Fortunately, though, bike thefts have gone down in the capital, and the news that a massive Met operation has arrested 45 people for bike theft on Wednesday should mean it continues to decline.

But we wanted to know just which brands and models of bike were the most popular with light-fingered lowlifes. The Met didn’t have detailed figures to hand and suggested we submit a Freedom of Information request, but we’d rather they were out catching bike thieves than digging through databases.

The folks at bike registration service BikeRegister.com were more easily able to help out, though.

Spokesperson Angela Singleton sent us these two tables.

Bikes stolen in 12 months to April 30 2014, by brand

UK London 1 Specialized 28.2% 27.6% 2 Trek 17.0% 17.3% 3 Giant 14.4% 11.5% 4 Carrera 8.8% 8.4% 5 Ridgeback 8.0% 8.4%

Bikes stolen in 12 months to April 30 2014,​ by model

Position UK London (position) Manufacturer Model 2 Specialized Sirrus 14.3% 15.9% (2) 3 Specialized Langster 12.2% 15.9% (1) 4 Specialized Allez 11.2% 10.1% (3) 5 Trek 7.3 9.2% 10.1% (4) 6 Trek 7.2 8.2% 10.1% (5)

As you can see, Specialized, Trek and Giant make up almost 60 percent of bikes stolen in the UK. They’re also the dominant brands of bike shop bikes in the UK, but they don’t dominate the sales figures quite as much as they dominate the theft data. This supports Dixon’s belief that thieves are going after less-distinctive bikes.

The top five models being stolen in London are all from Specialized and Trek, and, with an exception we’ll explain in a moment, that’s true for the UK too.

At number one with a bullet, the Specialized Sirrus is exactly the sort of bike Dixon was talking about: a mid-priced commuter model. Specialized takes the next two spots too, with the singlespeed Langster and the Allez road bike.

Two of Trek’s flat-bar bikes round out the top five, the 7.3 and 7.2. They’re classic examples of Dixon bikes: common, practical and easily fenced.

Three of the top five have flat bars, which points up an oft-forgotten fact that the majority of mid-priced bikes sold in the UK are not enthusiast-type race bikes with drop bars, but bikes like this that make people feel confident and comfortable. Hybrids might not be sexy, but the category is the Ford Focus of bikes: popular and practical.

You’re probably wondering why the make-and-model listing for the UK starts at number two. In fact the number one bike stolen on BikeRegister’s database was the Giant Revel mountain bike, but Singleton told us: “This is distorted by the fact that we worked with the police to identify a criminal who specialised in this make and model.”

Code of practice for secondhand buyers & sellers

Speaking of BikeRegister, the service has just launched its Code of Practice for the Purchase and Sale of Secondhand bikes.

The code recommends checking a bike you’re thinking of buying against BikeRegister’s BikeChecker facility to make sure it’s not stolen.

The code of practice has been developed in conjunction with the Met’s Cycle Task Force and other police forces, who are looking at ways to expand Project Cycle Ops, which has helped drive down bike theft in the capital. The officer behind that initiative, Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, said: “We want retailers and buyers of secondhand bikes to be assured that they have taken part in a legitimate sale and that the bikes are not stolen.

“I urge all second hand cycle retailers to ensure that they check bikes with BikeRegister before purchase to verify legitimacy of sales. Should they discover that the bikes are stolen they should report it immediately to police.”

[gummibear]

[DJR]

He must be from Amsterdam. Was an experiment called white bikes which failed.......because the bikes were stolen

 

Ha ha, I think there are some criminals that are trying to start a "white bikes project" here too, and make it work by not allowing the original owners to use the bikes again after round 1.

[Mr X]

When my friend was travelling in Switzerland on a bus he asked a fellow passenger if his bicycle would be safe from theft in the cargo hold of the bus. The passenger`s eyes went big with fear and asked: "Do you think there is a thief on the bus?", and wanted to inform the driver.

[tubed]

Sadly it is getting right out of hand and between the police and Sanparks as protectors and custodians - I have little faith in it being cured.

 

I have lived in Hout Bay all my life and commute, train, run, tour as much as I can. Here is how it has changed:

• commute to work: it's dodgy carrying the laptop etc via Blockhouse (no recent incidents)
  
• Karbonkelberg - one of the best 'secret' climb and descents on the peninsula, seriously technical and fast - now out of bounds because of tik crazed knife wielding gangs from adjacent harbour
  
• Sandy Bay/ Rocket Road - less threatening gang, more casual thieves, but still present
  
• Vlakkenberg saddle/ Mast road/ Bokkemans - a gang of 2/3 I am probably going to meet soon with Puffer training going into overdrive, modus operandi is to tie up victims and rob them of everything
  
• Baden Powell Drive - long since been avoided - a vital link between the Peninsula and Overberg for touring
  
• Sir Lowry's Pass - again a newish violent gang stopping the link between to the Overberg
  

Given the amount I ride and run on my own, my time will probably come one day soon, I will be sensible for the sake of me and my family and probably just let them take my stuff.

 

But its just so sad that it has come to this.

[Ozzie NL]

When my friend was travelling in Switzerland on a bus he asked a fellow passenger if his bicycle would be safe from theft in the cargo hold of the bus. The passenger`s eyes went big with fear and asked: "Do you think there is a thief on the bus?", and wanted to inform the driver.

 

The Swiss are a different story. Ask them how all that gold came into the country after and during WWII

[Mr X]

Sadly it is getting right out of hand and between the police and Sanparks as protectors and custodians - I have little faith in it being cured.

 

I have lived in Hout Bay all my life and commute, train, run, tour as much as I can. Here is how it has changed:

• commute to work: it's dodgy carrying the laptop etc via Blockhouse (no recent incidents)
  
• Karbonkelberg - one of the best 'secret' climb and descents on the peninsula, seriously technical and fast - now out of bounds because of tik crazed knife wielding gangs from adjacent harbour
  
• Sandy Bay/ Rocket Road - less threatening gang, more casual thieves, but still present
  
• Vlakkenberg saddle/ Mast road/ Bokkemans - a gang of 2/3 I am probably going to meet soon with Puffer training going into overdrive, modus operandi is to tie up victims and rob them of everything
  
• Baden Powell Drive - long since been avoided - a vital link between the Peninsula and Overberg for touring
  
• Sir Lowry's Pass - again a newish violent gang stopping the link between to the Overberg
  

Given the amount I ride and run on my own, my time will probably come one day soon, I will be sensible for the sake of me and my family and probably just let them take my stuff.

 

But its just so sad that it has come to this.

 

The gang on Sir Lowry`s will take you too. Their intentions is to kidnap you via your car boot.

[milky4130]

CLimb in your car & ride on private land where the landowner permits mtb'ing, too many trails available to mention & if that still doesn't appeal to you there is always knitting or chess.

[Mr X]

CLimb in your car & ride on private land where the landowner permits mtb'ing, too many trails available to mention & if that still doesn't appeal to you there is always knitting or chess.

 

Good advice, but, if they can`t get victims in the mountain, they will get their victims somewhere else. Giving up your freedom of movement does not help.

[gummibear]

The Swiss are a different story. Ask them how all that gold came into the country after and during WWII

 

Have a look at the Bigelow Report