Detectives and noxious locks take on bike thieves

[AleksR]

An interesting article on bike theft and ways to prevent it. VanMoof features prominently as a company that takes bike theft seriously.

Detectives and noxious locks take on bike thieves

The cycling industry is coming up with innovative ways to deter a wave of bike crime.

www.bbc.com

 

[legsofbeer]

The skunklock website is dubious as f*ck. Incoherent caption on the "How does it work" image, the FAQ doesn't answer some of its own posed questions.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Skunk Lock? Why not use the real thing?

 

[6zfshdb]

Most of these theft deterrents rely on the fact that a would be thief "knows" about them. A skilled bike thief may be aware of these measures but most bike thieves are clueless. They discover the bike is useless AFTER they steal it which doesn't do the owner any good. The bike is apt to be dumped in a river or destroyed in some other manner before a GPS tracker can locate it.

Even so, it certainly can't hurt to incorporate an anti theft device on a bike. If one in ten is recovered, or the theft thwarted, it's better than nothing. Keep in mind though that there is no such thing as a completely theft proof security system. If a thief wants something badly enough, he'll find a way to steal it.

 

[ki11a]

I am pretty sure if a thief was cutting your lock and some crap sprayed on them they would want to take the bike even more or possibly destroy the bike out of spite.

 

[FlatSix911]

I am pretty sure if a thief was cutting your lock and some crap sprayed on them they would want to take the bike even more or possibly destroy the bike out of spite.

An interesting idea along with the risk if broken ... then the Skunklock gives off a foul-smelling gas.

 

[6zfshdb]

This skunk lock could create an interesting court case should a thief be hospitalized or worse from exposure to the foul smelling gas. In some jurisdictions, this could be construed as illegal boobytrapping.
There was a case a few years ago in my town where someone wired an electric fence transformer to the dash of his car to prevent theft of his stereo. A thief broke into the car and suffered a fatal heart attack as a result of the normally non lethal shock. It went to trial and the car owner spent a few months in jail and paid a hefty fine.

IMO, these thieves would be getting what they deserve from devices such as these but the law may not agree.

 

[PDoz]

An interesting article on bike theft and ways to prevent it. VanMoof features prominently as a company that takes bike theft seriously.

Detectives and noxious locks take on bike thieves

The cycling industry is coming up with innovative ways to deter a wave of bike crime.

www.bbc.com

Rather than encourage these advertorials, how about we consider the ethics of Van Moof - she works for the company, joined the team looking for her bike, and when it was found amongst a pile of other bikes she negotiated the return of HER bike in exchange for not calling the police. Then got free advertising.

That doesn't sound like taking bike theft seriously , in fact it sounds like a buisiness model designed to profit from bike theft!