What kind of e-bikes do thieves prefer?

[mschwett]

They’re here. Don’t be naive.

i know when i steal e-bikes, i only go for mid drive, carbon frame, less than 35lb, torque sensor, hydraulic discs, tubeless wheels and tires, preferably a rohloff in the back......

 

[PedalUma]

I was kind'a think'n we could do Stefan's bike with the undercoat/spray paint treatment. The tires could be pink. Okay, I will do a food porn replay.

 

[tomjasz]

The worst part of getting a bike stolen is the police report.

Having retired to the same sleepy hollow I grew up in I tend to complain about how out of step this little city is. But then the crime level and police experience here are amazingly positive. I gifted an old fella a completely new eBike build. Allowing him for the first time in a decade to actually have more control of his life. Transport when he needed or wanted. Well, he decided to pop into the local library. The eBike was in sight. But sure enough, he turned around and looked back...GONE!

We all thought that was the end of his eBike. We all expected the Popo to not give a hoot, but nothing could have prepared us for what did happen.

I called a local detective to share the story. He followed up on his DAY OFF. Within hours there were several sightings and by morning the next day, the ebike was recovered.

 

[sc00ter]

I always have good encounters with police. Basic rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. But in my city, and the surrounding areas, bike theft is viewed as a waste of time. I just try not to let mine get stolen! Solves the whole police report drama.

 

[Fredw]

The first e-bike I saw in this flyover state was a Pedego that had fat tires & purple rims. The owner chased me down and asked me if I had seen his stolen bike. This was a replacement. Thieves carried his bike out over a 4' chain link fence. It wasn't locked.
My bike has aluminum rims, 2.1" tires, and is painted girly green. It has a girly drop frame. See the avatar. I've been riding it for 4.2 years, locking it up 2 - 4 times a week in front of grocery & dollar stores, churches, restaurants, my volunteer job. I use a 1/2" x 6' stainless steel cable sliing. Also a Abus 92/80 lock. Screws have been removed from the battery mount twice, and the tire has been knifed twice. I don't lock the bike in my garage.

It is risky no matter where you lock a bike . I use three different locks and do not leave and forget. If I can bring inside then I do that. I do lock it in my garage.

 

[Taylor57]

It is risky no matter where you lock a bike . I use three different locks and do not leave and forget. If I can bring inside then I do that. I do lock it in my garage.

If you want to keep your bike, keep it with you. I'm going on vacation soon and am leaving my bikes in the guest room. Don't even give the low lifes a shot!

 

[breadfan85]

If you want to keep your bike, keep it with you. I'm going on vacation soon and am leaving my bikes in the guest room. Don't even give the low lifes a shot!

That's more easily said than done. Not every business is going to let me bring my bike inside with the. Grocery shopping in particular could be difficult.

 

[Taylor57]

That's more easily said than done. Not every business is going to let me bring my bike inside with the. Grocery shopping in particular could be difficult.

If the grocery store will not let you bring your bike inside, either find one that will or have your groceries delivered. . I have taken my bike inside Rite Aid to pick up a prescription. They have a nice bike rack right outside but there are usually a few homeless camped out right next to it. I have chained it before with my Kryptonite Ulock and cable and activated my noisy loud annoying alarm. But only for 10 15 minutes max and the whole time was very aware that my bike was not with me...

 

[indianajo]

have your groceries delivered.

I tried shipt grocery delivery when I had shoulder surgery & couldn't ride the bike. They reported 1/3 the items I ordered "out of stock". The low sugar, low saturated fat, high vegetable fat items I buy to manage my diabetes & cholesterol were absent. The average out of stock when I shop is about 1 out of 20 items.
I'm sorry I don't eat like the typical American porky pig that made the delivery, but I intend to live past age 55.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I've noticed that a lot of grocery stores put the bike rack off in a discreet corner so the bike thieves can do their work undisturbed.

 

[ElevenAD]

That's more easily said than done. Not every business is going to let me bring my bike inside with the. Grocery shopping in particular could be difficult.

I bring my bikes right inside of any(Stop n Shop/Shoprite) grocery store, lock it and set the alarm, in 4 years of doing this no store employee has ever said anything to me and if they did i would find a new store.

 

[Art Deco]

I've noticed that a lot of grocery stores put the bike rack off in a discreet corner so the bike thieves can do their work undisturbed.

Here they are often back by the hitching post for the horse and buggy group, by the (usually locked) employee enterance, but I doubt that anyone would care if you wanted to bring it inside.

 

[rob feature]

The bikes they prefer to steal are the easy ones. Make yours harder to steal than the others around it.

Best practice is to store it inside your home or workplace. Not only for security, but bikes that live inside last a lot longer. But if it has to be locked somewhere, secure it in a well-trafficked, well-lit area - preferably with obvious cameras - even if they aren't really watching your stuff. As before, make it harder to steal than the others around it. Use a good strong chain and padlock if you can stomach the weight. Secure the wheels too if it will live there. Stay away from cables as they're easy to cut. I personally use an Abus folding lock as I find it to be the best combination of weight, bulk, and security. Even then, I try to minimize the time that it's out of sight.