would this work for anti theft?

[dodahman]

I keep reading about ebikes being stolen. Yesterday I read about a delivery person in big city having his stolen by folks brandishing guns/knives. The delivery guy lost his bike and his job, but he had no choice really.
So, how about hidden blue tooth connectivity device. If the owners smart phone lost contact, the device could shut down the bike. It probably should have a variable timer for cutoff, from 0 to a minute or so? You don't want to immediately piss off a robber with a gun, you would rather him/her leave, is my thinking on the delay. It could tie into brake lever control or ?
Has this been done as aftermarket accessory?
Is this stupid?
Thanks.

 

[Dewey]

VanMoof ebikes have a remote lockdown feature on the phone app

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

There is nothing that is going to stop a thief with a gun, except remove yourself from that kind of environment that has thieves moving freely about with guns in search of prey.

 

[ki11a]

Bad idea...get some bluetooth connectivity issues and your ebike stops working on you? No thanks.

 

[dodahman]

There is nothing that is going to stop a thief with a gun, except remove yourself from that kind of environment that has thieves moving freely about with guns in search of prey.

some folks don't have the option of removing oneself from such environments. The idea was not to Stop the thief. As you say, guns...The idea was to stop the bike a short time later.

 

[dodahman]

VanMoof ebikes have a remote lockdown feature on the phone app

Thanks. I will check that out. Do rental ebikes have e locks? or whatever they might be called.

 

[dodahman]

Bad idea...get some bluetooth connectivity issues and your ebike stops working on you? No thanks.

I suspect that can be worked around. I doubt van moof owners would put up with such...

 

[Art Deco]

I think that all the big manufacturers could do an anti theft app very quickly if the is enough demand. I haven't had any bluetooth issues with my Specialized bike, and was quite surprised how well they seem to stay connected nowadays .

 

[Dewey]

Thanks. I will check that out. Do rental ebikes have e locks? or whatever they might be called.

Ah no, the dockless one's often require you lock the bike to something and insert the lock cable in an Abus wheel lock type device before they end the rental

 

[WattsUpDude]

Remote cafe locks would be fantastic. More so if it were located in the front. If someone takes your bike, let them ride off then hit "catapult mode" when they're 50 feet away.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

some folks don't have the option of removing oneself from such environments. The idea was not to Stop the thief. As you say, guns...The idea was to stop the bike a short time later.

If the bike has a removable display (my Yamaha powered Haibike has such a display), simply removing it and locking the bike will ensure the bike is there provided the delivery is under a minute or so when you come back. The bike drive will not work if that display is missing.

I believe I recall reading Stromer had or has a system that can lock the motor?

Then, there are the trackers, like Lo-Jack.

There really aren't any good alternatives when you are dealing with any large urban city with a high crime rate.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

I keep reading about ebikes being stolen. Yesterday I read about a delivery person in big city having his stolen by folks brandishing guns/knives. The delivery guy lost his bike and his job, but he had no choice really.
So, how about hidden blue tooth connectivity device. If the owners smart phone lost contact, the device could shut down the bike. It probably should have a variable timer for cutoff, from 0 to a minute or so? You don't want to immediately piss off a robber with a gun, you would rather him/her leave, is my thinking on the delay. It could tie into brake lever control or ?
Has this been done as aftermarket accessory?
Is this stupid?
Thanks.

My issue isn't someone riding off with my bike, wheeling it away or highjacking me.
It's Pros breaking the locks quickly, throwing my bike in a van and driving off. Securing your bike to something immovable with the normal means available to us, like a cafe lock and a U lock isn't good enough. Doing this is not adequate to allow one to lock a bike out of sight for say, a half hour and expect it to be there upon return. It only allows locking a bike while keeping in sight. Beating the pros who are on the prowl for unaccompanied, locked bikes is what you need to worry about. I read an article in a Toronto magazine a year or so ago that documented how little time it takes the 'experts' to get your bike in van and split. They can beat any lock in a surprisingly short period of time, and they carry the tools to do it. Theft rates in urban areas especially high. CN

 

[Gionnirocket]

I keep reading about ebikes being stolen. Yesterday I read about a delivery person in big city having his stolen by folks brandishing guns/knives. The delivery guy lost his bike and his job, but he had no choice really.
So, how about hidden blue tooth connectivity device. If the owners smart phone lost contact, the device could shut down the bike. It probably should have a variable timer for cutoff, from 0 to a minute or so? You don't want to immediately piss off a robber with a gun, you would rather him/her leave, is my thinking on the delay. It could tie into brake lever control or ?
Has this been done as aftermarket accessory?
Is this stupid?
Thanks.

I think it would probably be a better investment to add a tracking device that could potentially get the thieves caught and the bike returned. As mentioned previously, most thefts are done by throwing your bike in a van, so disabling it wouldn't be much help.
And if at gunpoint, I'd let the police deal with it. I don't think disabling it would slow them down much.

 

[Dallant]

Insurance.

 

[dodahman]

I think that all the big manufacturers could do an anti theft app very quickly if the is enough demand. I haven't had any bluetooth issues with my Specialized bike, and was quite surprised how well they seem to stay connected nowadays .

Thanks. I agree. firmware is not that exotic/expensive. Maybe reliable hardware is?

Ah no, the dockless one's often require you lock the bike to something and insert the lock cable in an Abus wheel lock type device before they end the r

Ah no, the dockless one's often require you lock the bike to something and insert the lock cable in an Abus wheel lock type device before they end the rental

thanks, I was thinking that would be a route given the numbers of rentals. , but nope...

I was thinking an aftermarket accessory?

If the bike has a removable display (my Yamaha powered Haibike has such a display), simply removing it and locking the bike will ensure the bike is there provided the delivery is under a minute or so when you come back. The bike drive will not work if that display is missing.

I believe I recall reading Stromer had or has a system that can lock the motor?

Then, there are the trackers, like Lo-Jack.

There really aren't any good alternatives when you are dealing with any large urban city with a high crime rate.

There really aren't any good alternatives when you are dealing with any large urban city with a high crime rate.
I wish there were, but I am dreamer at times....maybe there can be one?

 

[dodahman]

My issue isn't someone riding off with my bike, wheeling it away or highjacking me.
It's Pros breaking the locks quickly, throwing my bike in a van and driving off. Securing your bike to something immovable with the normal means available to us, like a cafe lock and a U lock isn't good enough. Doing this is not adequate to allow one to lock a bike out of sight for say, a half hour and expect it to be there upon return. It only allows locking a bike while keeping in sight. Beating the pros who are on the prowl for unaccompanied, locked bikes is what you need to worry about. I read an article in a Toronto magazine a year or so ago that documented how little time it takes the 'experts' to get your bike in van and split. They can beat any lock in a surprisingly short period of time, and they carry the tools to do it. Theft rates in urban areas especially high. CN

Yes, what I was thinking about is worthless in that situation. Humans are defective creatures..

 

[Dewey]

There really aren't any good alternatives when you are dealing with any large urban city with a high crime rate.
I wish there were, but I am dreamer at times....maybe there can be one?

Cities could build better bicycle infrastructure including secure parking near transit stations, the Netherlands shows what's possible with chip cards required to enter and retrieve a bike and at least one staff member to patrol the facility. It doesn't fix the street parking issue, heavy chains and u-locks may deter casual theft.

 

[antboy]

If your e-bike isn't a Trek or Specialized, always lock up your bike beside a Trek or Specialized (even if they're not e-bikes).

Guess which one the thief of opportunity is going to take?

Here in Toronto, I'm also surprised by how often I see pedal bikes worth north of a couple of grand locked up with a single U-lock, frequently only through the down tube. If I'm leaving my bike unattended for longer than it takes to grab a cup of coffee mid-ride, I'll have at least 2 locks with me.

The majority of thieves ARE opportunistic, and just the sight of both a folding lock, and a decent U-lock (or sometimes the Beast chain), is enough for them to pick an easier target. I would say that in practice, almost every time I've done a lock up, there's been a high quality pedal bike poorly locked up nearby, and I choose to park beside it.

Also, if there's the option to pick a less easily accessible spot to lock it up say, a middle space in a crowded row of racks, I'll choose that, for the same "thieves are opportunistic jerks" mindset.

I've taken this approach with my pedal bikes for the past 30 years as well. Think of it as a "herd mentality" thing... if thieves are wolves, looking for the weakest prey, don't be the weakest prey. I wouldn't say that it's something I actively have to keep in mind... it's become instinctual with me, well before I bought my first e-bike.

The only countermeasure I could never bring myself to do is the "make the bike look like crap" approach, though the idea of a fake rusty patina on the frame to give it a "jalopy" look does appeal to me aesthetically speaking.

Also, as @Mike TowpathTraveler said, having a removeable display was a part of the decision making process, because besides thieves, there are also dicks who like to mess around with bikes for the lulz. One of our fixed Bafang displays was deliberately twisted by a dick while we were shopping last year. Luckily it was just the clamp and not the display that was cracked and easily fixed.

 

[Art Deco]

If your e-bike isn't a Trek or Specialized, always lock up your bike beside a Trek or Specialized (even if they're not e-bikes).

Guess which one the thief of opportunity is going to take?

Here in Toronto, I'm also surprised by how often I see pedal bikes worth north of a couple of grand locked up with a single U-lock, frequently only through the down tube. If I'm leaving my bike unattended for longer than it takes to grab a cup of coffee mid-ride, I'll have at least 2 locks with me.

The majority of thieves ARE opportunistic, and just the sight of both a folding lock, and a decent U-lock (or sometimes the Beast chain), is enough for them to pick an easier target. I would say that in practice, almost every time I've done a lock up, there's been a high quality pedal bike poorly locked up nearby, and I choose to park beside it.

Also, if there's the option to pick a less easily accessible spot to lock it up say, a middle space in a crowded row of racks, I'll choose that, for the same "thieves are opportunistic jerks" mindset.

I've taken this approach with my pedal bikes for the past 30 years as well. Think of it as a "herd mentality" thing... if thieves are wolves, looking for the weakest prey, don't be the weakest prey. I wouldn't say that it's something I actively have to keep in mind... it's become instinctual with me, well before I bought my first e-bike.

The only countermeasure I could never bring myself to do is the "make the bike look like crap" approach, though the idea of a fake rusty patina on the frame to give it a "jalopy" look does appeal to me aesthetically speaking.

Also, as @Mike TowpathTraveler said, having a removeable display was a part of the decision making process, because besides thieves, there are also dicks who like to mess around with bikes for the lulz. One of our fixed Bafang displays was deliberately twisted by a dick while we were shopping last year. Luckily it was just the clamp and not the display that was cracked and easily fixed.

I may yet do an "ugly ification" with fake rust and grey tape, etc. on my Specialized bike. Theves aren't interested in ugly bikes, so much. Anyone tried that?

 

[antboy]

I may yet do an "ugly ification" with fake rust and grey tape, etc. on my Specialized bike. Theves aren't interested in ugly bikes, so much. Anyone tried that?

I haven't seen it done to e-bikes, personally. I've seen a "uglified" pedal bikes with well-kept components and ugly frames here in Toronto, including a higher end Sirrus covered in duct tape and stickers.