My bike got stolen a second time (in Amsterdam) - what should I do? [duplicate]

Question

I've moved to Amsterdam a few months ago, and have started using bicycles; I mostly cycle from home to work.

I've been using typical old(ish) used bikes, black-color omafiets of some obscure make, with a front basket mounted. It had a (simple?) ring lock and a 20-25 EUR chain lock.

My first bike was stolen from near work. Never mind the circumstances, but I bought another one and made sure to always keep it in my workplace's locked bike shed where I feel it's pretty safe.

However, just last week, my second bike was stolen from near my home. I had parked it at a main intersection - assuming the visibility numbers would make this a safer choice. Both locks were on, and the chain affixed the bike to a metal bike-stand. Still, it got stolen overnight.

I'm wondering what to do...

• Should I plan for my bike occasionally getting stolen and repeatedly buy cheap ones?
• Should I buy a more sturdy, more expensive lock for my new bike?
• Should I spend money on customizing the bike so as to make it more theft-repellent?
• Perhaps I should just change my assumptions and park my bike someplace less conspicuous to begin with? It would make the bike less visible to bike thieves, but would allow them to operate more safely, since few people would notice and if someone noticed they could just run off.

Advice would be highly appreciated.

Notes:

• Amsterdam-specific (and Amsterdam-popular-bike-model specific) answers are welcome; and that fact, specifically since the city is very prone to opportunist bike theft, makes this question a non-dupe in my view.
• I can't keep my bike indoors overnight - I'm living in an apartment building with a narrow staircase and not much room, this is not a relevant solution (for me at least). Obviously if I could keep indoors it would be a whole different issue since bike thieves don't break into people's houses (that makes them burglars).
• I'm not going to find my bike, so I'm only asking about next time.

Answer 1

1. Buy more secure lock(s) for your bike - I have a Kryptonite New York Standard and a Kryptoflex cable that I leave in work for my commute. I also have a New York Fahgettaboudit Mini for using about town on my single speed (no quick release installed on this bike).
2. Utilise new/better lock from above to secure your bike in a more productive fashion. Personally I will place the u-lock through the rear wheel and seat tube like the image below

You also have to consider that thieves want a quick and easy job. If your bike is secured like the picture above with a strong lock, they'll probably just move on to an easier target unless it's a very valuable bike which you've locked in public, something I'd advise against.

Answer 2

A cheap ring lock like the one pictured below can be defeated in less than one minute with a screwdriver. Furthermore, even a good ring lock (one that that isn't easily broken and might take a few minutes to defeat with a screwdriver) has a fundamental and fatal flaw - the thief can simply pick the bike up and put it in the back of their truck or van.

A chain lock (even one that is 20 euro) or wire lock can be cut with small bolt-cutters, small enough to put in your jacket. The same bolt-cutters could have easily destroyed your ring lock too -- even very good ones. Total time about 10 seconds.

What you really need is at least one lock that can't be defeated by bolt-cutters. Get a U-lock with very thick shackles (> 12mm). Get two if you can -- one you leave at home and one you leave at work.

For example, the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini has 18mm shackles. Most bolt-cutters only go up to 12mm (1/2"). So the only way to cut the Kryptonite is to use a grinder, which is noisy and takes more time (about two minutes with a grinder).

Answer 3

I know you said 'I'm not going to find my bike', but it is definitely very helpful to figure out the spots where bike thieves try to sell your bike on. I have retrieved more than one stolen bike that way!

In Amsterdam there is a service every Wednesday (in different locations) where you can let the number of your bike be registered and they will engrave it on the frame of the bike in a visible spot. That will both deter future thieves and make it easier to find your bike if it does get stolen again.

See this page for the times and locations for the engraving.

Answer 4

Get folding handlebars so you can carry the bike up the steps into your apartment. Make room for it inside (just get rid of something else you don't really need such as an old chair, an old bookcase, an old girlfriend...).

Answer 5

Since others have answered the "what kind of lock to use" aspect quite well, I'll pretend that you're a mark for the bike-thieves now, and that they will not leave you alone no matter what kind of lock you employ.

As such, I'll address other strategies here; a lock — no matter what the quality — can only buy you time against a determined thief. If your bike is accessible all night long, then no lock is truly sufficient, especially since this place near your apartment sounds like a comfortable spot for them to continue to operate.

Lockers: If there are sets of bicycle-lockers in your general area, you might consider availing these, and then walking or taking public transit a few stops to get back to your apartment. This may or may not work depending on your schedule. To find out if there are any nearby, you can probably get a map from your local bicycle-advocacy group or bike-shop.

Friends or neighbors: Similar to the locker-strategy, someone may have space nearby, like a big truck or van they never use, a house with a good fence (and a scary dog?) or maybe they have a garage. Give them rent (or cookies) in exchange for the space. Clearly, this requires some trust and I'm aware you're new to the city, but you could meet a nice old lady or something walking. Maybe you won't use this idea right away but will move house later and it will become an option.

City rentals: I've lived in some places where the city offers bike-rentals everywhere, and the special racks always have at least one bike sitting in them. Although this may cost you some money (sometimes there's a discount card you can get if you're a frequent user), you save on upkeep, and you don't care if one specific one gets stolen (or rented by someone else).

Insurance: There are likely insurance policies out there which will cover a stolen bike, and you may even be able to just expand one of your current policies to include it. This may require you to register the bike somehow, or use a specific kind of lock, but it would allow you to rest easy.

Longterm strategy: You might want to determine whether there are any cameras nearby this parking area where your bike was taken. If there are, it would allow you do some sleuthing. Regardless, you could petition your apartment complex's administration and/or city/neighborhood authorities to create more bicycle-storage or put up cameras in the area, which would hopefully discourage this kind of theft in the general vicinity.

Answer 6

I don't know exactly where you are, but I knew a woman who lived in an area with many canals where unlocked bikes tended to get thrown into the canals. A friend of hers had her bike stolen, and instead of getting a new one, she hauled one out of a canal and cleaned the major dirt off. It rusted into unusability within six months, so she pulled out another one.

This solution may not prevent theft, but it will certainly save on replacement costs when theft happens.

Answer 7

I think you need to plan on your bike being stolen/damaged a few more times, maybe many more times. The Netherlands have a big bike theft problems, Amsterdam tops that by quite a bit.

My mode is always to have a bike that looks less than the ones besides it and lock it with better locks.
Two different locks, best one that is not that common in the area. Often locks on Amsterdam bikes are more expensive than the bike itself.
A lock that is common where you used to live but not in Amsterdam might work better than a more expensive lock common where the bike is parked.

Did you look for a guarded bike parking near where you live? There are quite a few spread around the city and you might find that it is only a few minutes walking for you.

I find one on Weesperplein and one at Amstelstation. If you google maps on bewaakte fietsenstalling they all pop-up on the map.

Answer 8

One data point:-

I kept a €20 bike locked on the street in the Amsterdam grachtengordel (not dead-centre) for several months with a two locks:-

1. A ubiquitous lock mounted on the seatpost that passes through the rear wheel.

2. A not-very-expensive chain lock that looks like this:-

   

   IE: the key-lock is encased in a metal tube and the chain is secured in the tube with bolts.

Perhaps I was merely lucky.

Other thoughts...

A black omafiets (high handlebar) is a desirable style and even a cheap item might be more of a target than other styles, eg a 3-gear Gazelle. Perhaps you meant you've owned this (old) contemporary style? (I don't know the name, I think of it as a school or student bike.)

Answer 9

What part of Amsterdam are you in? I've been told any place that is near students is a bad place to keep your bike. If you really want to be vigilant do a google search for compact GPS units or something like this http://www.spybike.com/ and hide it on your bike. I usually get a used bike of questionable origin when I visit. There are a few good places to go. I have even heard of someone finding a past stolen bike for sale at the market. Don't lock your bike with a standard major brand padlock. Many of these lock brands have masters keys. A skilled bike theif can easily pick a lock in a few seconds if they have had plenty of practice with the particular model. A battery powered angle grinder or a portable plasma torch can cut any lock in a few minutes. A really determined bike thief is going to get your bike if they really want it. I've actualy locked my bike next to bikes with bad locks in hopes that someone would take their bike instead of mine.

Answer 10

Here's an idea. Let me know if this sounds ridiculous:

• Lock the bike with 3-4 different non-trivial chain locks (the kind you can get for 15-25 EUR).

While chain locks can be broken, each one takes some time, and breaking one of them doesn't help you with the others. It might draw more attention, but for a somewhat shabby-looking bike, it should probably not be worth the trouble.

I would just leave them on one of the bike racks near my home, and at work I have the shed arrangement.

(I will have a ring lock too, for convenience and for driving around with in case I need to leave the bike for a couple of seconds.)

Answer 11

In addition to all of the other suggestions, I would recommend removing one or both wheels at night. You could easily carry and store these. A thief would more likely steal a bike that was not useless so he would steal another bike instead.

This could also backfire by making your bike MORE noticeable which could draw the attention of a thief.

Answer 12

have you considered foldable bikes that can fit in a backpack? there are many cheap variations which you can take essentially anywhere and consequently, indoors.

Answer 13

Amsterdam is a tough place when it comes to keeping bikes safe. Of the people I know who live(d) there, the bikes they keep/kept outside are in such bad shape that I myself am afraid to ride them... so if you can find a bike which is completely covered in rust and has a broken headset, you can buy a "middle-class" bike chain lock and leave it outside. Otherwise, I'd do what ynnekkram suggests, but keep in mind that a lot of thieves will still try to steal your bike and will likely damage it in the process (especially the paint).

Answer 14

Yes I voted to close as it is multiple questions

I think a better question is bicycle security and risk management
You want to minimize theft and minimize impact in the event it is stolen

• Cheapest bike that does the job
  • This not only makes the bike less attractive to thieves but also less costly for you to replace
  • A used bike is going to be less expensive.
  • Amsterdam is fairly flat. A single speed (SS) is probably sufficient. A SS is going to be the cheapest bike. And there are less components to steal. I have SS for commuting that is actually a nice bike to ride and I have about $400 into it.
• High end locks(s)
  Put $100+ lock on a $300 bike
  Make sure the frame and both wheels are locked
  Make sure you are locked to something secure
  There are tricks of stop signs that can be lifted out of the ground
  best bike lock
• Secure components
  Cheap components is a deterrent
  Definitely want a ratty seat and ratty pedals
  Kind of need to risk decent wheels and tires or the bike is just not very ride-able
  Can get security bolts and security skewers
  Cheap trick is bearing in hex bolts held with grease or wax
  Never leave lights or bags on the bike - you can get quick release seat bags
• Location
  High visibility and high traffic
• Record and register the serial number
  Not only gives you a chance of getting the bike back but is can shut down criminals. If the police go into a garage and see 10 bikes of various sizes they are pretty sure they are stolen but cannot prove it. A registered bike lets them prove the bike is stolen.
• Another extreme is a folding bike that you can take into you apt and work. But a decent folding bike expensive.