[Closed] bike theft warning (from sheffield but important for the whole of uk)

Roof lining anyone?

[img] [/img]

[url= https://www.themetalstore.co.uk/products/weld-mesh-10-swg ]https://www.themetalstore.co.uk/products/weld-mesh-10-swg[/url]

I had weld mesh put in my walls when the garage was built and anticipated the roof thing and had it put in the roof space of the garage,

Starva logging has been around for years, at least 4 or 5, my mate had his bike nicked in October after I told him about this he thought I was making it up. He still uses it but starts it about half a mile from home.

Or you can just use the easily set up privacy option in Strava.

I use privacy zones - I have a series of overlapping ones around the area my house is in so it's not centered on where I live.

A friend of mine had is garage roof tiles removed and bikes stolen.
He beefed up security including passive sensors in the garage etc. They came back, got spooked by the alarms but not before the roof was trashed again.
The garage ceiling has now been lined with thick ply fixed with possibly more than the minimum required amount of 10" nails. It should be easier to follow the trail of Vimto if they come again.

wwaswas - Member

I use privacy zones - I have a series of overlapping ones around the area my house is in so it's not centered on where I live.

This is definitely worth doing. Takes a few mins, but gives you a nice dead zone around your house that reduces the risk of anyone working out which house is yours.

I have done it for friend's houses to where we also sometimes start riding from.

Agree with the privacy zone around friends houses thing.

Titling a ride 'Starting from Dave's' with no privacy on his address isn't doing Dave any favours.

If you haven't set your privacy zones in Strava I'd go and do it now.

Like wwaswas, I set up about 5 overlapping zones at random points around the area I live, in order to muddy the waters a bit further.

I do marvel at people calling their Strava rides 'first spin on my new Santa Cruz' and having all their settings to public

or which bike they're riding...
Mine have nicknames (sad, but I know what bike is which, defy anyone outwit close circle to identify them).

I've got Privacy Zones set up, BUT The cynical side of me thinks there is software to overcome this, There probably isn't but i'm not convinced. So i set iup Privacy Zones years ago and always start it up away from home.

if your set up correctly only those that follow you can see your rides

•Your name will be anonymized to all logged out athletes.
•Only Strava athletes that you approve can follow you.
•Only Strava athletes that you approve can see your photos.
•Only approved followers can see and download your activities on your Strava Profile.

also set privacy zone

Went out for a ride on Tuesday but the house opposite is having a new roof and three blokes were up there where they would have had a very nice view of us loading two valuable roadies into the back of the Passat. It would only take one of them to mention the bikes to a pal down at the pub, so I reversed the car into my neighbour's drive, which goes way back behind my house and we passed the bikes over the fence and loaded them out of sight of the roofers then covered them with a blanket as we drove out.

Call me paranoid if you want.

Went out for a ride on Tuesday but the house opposite is having a new roof and three blokes were up there where they would have had a very nice view of us loading two valuable roadies into the back of the Passat. It would only take one of them to mention the bikes to a pal down at the pub, so I reversed the car into my neighbour's drive, which goes way back behind my house and we passed the bikes over the fence and loaded them out of sight of the roofers then covered them with a blanket as we drove out.

Call me paranoid if you want.

Its not paranoia mate, its a sensible precaution in this day and age.

I'm now adverse to washing our bikes in our back yard because the alley is a shortcut for people walking from town to the local scally estate.

All it takes is for one wrongun to see that you have nice bikes and then tell his 'Uncle Dave' and then heartbreak strikes.

Thanks folks. I always had privacy set on my house, but I've just added a few more zones that overlap with my house

Haven't bothered with my work as it's in a secure, inside-the-building storage room

Over my years of riding BMX before I got into MTB, I used to change frames quite a bit as they're considerably cheaper and more universal in terms of component fitting.

You get vastly more attention from undesirables with a bike/frame that has colour than a black bike. Sounds obvious, but it's a relevant lesson.

All the "Oi mate how much is that worth?" questions came when I had purple/blue/metallic/any colour than black frames. Once I put a black frame on again you wouldn't get a second look.

Most MTB's are gopping colourways splashed with logos all over. My matt black with black components on-one rarely gets a second look and quite honestly one of my criteria when buying bikes these days is "does this scream "steal me"?

In the photography world, many professionals/serious shooters remove the logos from their cameras, scratch off model names, and change the strap to unbranded alternatives all to avoid attention when shooting out and about.

I wish more MTB's came with their decals ontop of the clearcoat so you can remove them.

Some impressive levels of paranoia/looking down the nose at tradesman types!

[img] [/img]

It's only paranoia if everyone isn't out to get you. And with bikes thats not a bad mindset to have.

Pretty sure my bikes were clocked either starting/finishing a ride or being washed.

Bike rack on roof of the car probably doesn't help either.

They were probably lifting his tiles to add a secure layer of steel mesh so that he couldnt be un done by scrotes, You should tell your Neighbour about Uncle Dave.
😉

Err, Yeah Bill, Bike Rack on top of car is a dead give away, Most Folk where i live who drive Volvo's with Racks aloft have been burgled for Bikes, One Bloke's been done 3 Times.

Concrete reinforcing mesh is a better option than weldmesh.

Standards options are 200mm squares with wires ranging from 1cm thick down. I've got 7mm thickness in my current shed but will be moving to 1cm in my new place as it's more isolated and large bolt croppers are pretty powerful.

There have been lots of high end bikes taken from round here (South Sheffield) recently. Who knows wether its Facebook groups, Strava, group rides or just plain old scoping/snooping that’s doing it. Don’t put pictures of your bikes/rides on FB or social groups, lock Strava down, change your name to a nickname and make sure you are not followed home.

One I don’t think people pay much attention to is Strava flyby. You are still included in flyby even when the security settings and privacy zones are set. You have to opt out of it separately.

Knew there was a reason I don't use Strava and I don't share my Garmin Connect profile or activities.

I had all my bikes taken by theiving B......s in October last year. I've only just managed to replace them all, it's taken over 4 months. I think I was targeted when they spotted the bike rack on my landlord's car.

In all seriousness though, Bike thievery does seem a hell of a lot worse in certain area, Sheffield and Bristol being the two I've noticed most.

I certainly don't think we have it anywhere near as bad in the wet desert above Hadrians.

One I don’t think people pay much attention to is Strava flyby. You are still included in flyby even when the security settings and privacy zones are set. You have to opt out of it separately.

I knew there was a reason why we always hide the bikes inside the car rather than display them like trophies on the roof. With the wheels off and the blind pulled they are completely hidden in the boot.

Couple of yars ago I found myself sitting next to a Serb lad on a flight to Belgrade. He saw my bike mag and started boasting about his pal in Novi Sad who flogs bikes stolen in Britain and shipped over in containers. Then he saw my expression and stopped boasting.

Pawsy_Bear - Member

if your set up correctly only those that follow you can see your rides

Nope. Any ride that you do a segment on I can see, by going to the segment and clicking on the time you set.

If I want to be a theif ill make a few segments around where your rides start and finish to pick up a few more of your rides, and it'll give a good idea where you live (privacy zone withstanding of course).

One I don’t think people pay much attention to is Strava flyby. You are still included in flyby even when the security settings and privacy zones are set. You have to opt out of it separately.

As above I can already find your ride by looking at segments. Hiding it from flyby does nothing other than giving you a nice warm false sense of security, mmm snuggly.

As above I can already find your ride by looking at segments. Hiding it from flyby does nothing other than giving you a nice warm false sense of security, mmm snuggly.

Oh FFS, various other measures in place though, and the fact my bike is rubbish and worth about 50p.

I was watching something on TV about the Police and a detective said, of somebody they wanted to interview: "He doesn't use social media so he's proving hard to find." Is it the same for cyclists?

I was watching something on TV about the Police and a detective said, of somebody they wanted to interview: "He doesn't use social media so he's proving hard to find." Is it the same for cyclists?

So as 'the perp' isn't 'checking in' on FB at the dog and duck the police can't find him? 😉

LoCo - Member

As above I can already find your ride by looking at segments. Hiding it from flyby does nothing other than giving you a nice warm false sense of security, mmm snuggly.

Oh FFS, various other measures in place though, and the fact my bike is rubbish and worth about 50p.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to put anyone down, just want people to realise what they have out in public. I see a lot of people saying 'just make profile private or opt out of this and all your rides will be hidden' when its not true and you could potentially be putting other people at risk of these thieves.

Privacy zones or making all your RIDES private is the only way to actually keep your home location hidden. Hiding profiles and turning off flyby could possibly help stop lazy thieves, but that wont stop the ones who are the sort to go through your roof.

Again I amazed that people would keep thousands of pounds worth of bicycles in a shed or garage. I keep a kids bike, a old bike of mine, lawnmmower, tents, boxes and old tyres. I see it as akin to leaving expensive stereo and hi-fi equipment in my two sheds and garage.

Yes theres insurance but someone still profits/gets cigs/drink and drugs out of you.

Some impressive levels of paranoia/looking down the nose at tradesman types!

My garage was burgled and bike stolen by a close mate of my window cleaner.

A mate of mine had his garage broken into but nothing went missing. He had the broken door replaced and a week later it was kicked in and a stack of alloy wheels disappeared. They were found by police in the garage of the person who fitted the new door.

My old next door neighbour had her wall knocked down by a car. Then she had her purse emptied by the brick layer who was rebuilding it.

This kind of thing happens every single day. You don't have to be paranoid but it makes sense to keep your stuff out of sight given how many greedy, opportunistic shit heads are roaming around in some areas.

Ah yes 5yrs ago when some tradesmen were doing up my new (shell of a) house they asked if I'd be interested in some high end Orange bikes or carbon etc. I said no ta but I asked how did they know I was into cycling? The sticker in the rear of my car and the shorts I sometimes came to the house to see the work in.

😯

Stato, sorry no not aimed at you, at silly strava! 😀

Hora - Maybe they'd seen the vid of you walking down the surrey hill trails, and figured you needed a more capable bike? 😆

😆

Stato, all this info helps people who are not aware of it. To say it puts people at risk is just not right, they signed up to Strava and should know the risks involved. It is down to each person to look after their online security and personal data.

jody - Member

Stato, all this info helps people who are not aware of it. To say it puts people at risk is just not right, they signed up to Strava and should know the risks involved. It is down to each person to look after their online security and personal data.

True, but when someone with only half a clue gives advice to someone with no clue, then they are both to blame.

If I want to be a theif ill make a few segments around where your rides start and finish to pick up a few more of your rides, and it'll give a good idea where you live (privacy zone withstanding of course).

I'll make sure I look out for nefarious hoods in the neighbourhood. Apart from opportunist bike thieves I'd say that most compromise their own security.

I agree, A bloke riding round my area who's quick, I think he's a Pro Roadie or on a Motorbike has his STRAVA Locked down, You cant see any of his info BUT if i ride down the same bit of road to him it shows me he's X fastest on the day against me, I then know hes been out and can look back at segments and can see him on Fly-Bys.

the point I think is to make it more difficult for the potential thieves

I got shot of Strava last year when I realised that even with privacy set full I was still fairly tracable. Just use Garmin Connect now and set to fully private.

I was helping someone move house this weekend and did a trip to the local waste tip. Bloke there asked if I was a mountain biker, had me confused for a bit - wearing 510s gave it away.

Facebook makes me cringe at times the amount of people posting public pictures of their new pride and joy.

nformation has also come through that they are reading strava/garmin routes and linking it up with photos of rides on social media and then targeting people.

I'm not sure if I believe this kind of detective work is really happening, although I do think not having Strava privacy zones is an opening for thieves. Really should be by default.

Far more likely IMO is that people are simply being observed with their bikes, and this doesn't necessarily mean things like being followed back from trail centres.

You only need to leave your bling bikes in the back of the car for half an hour when you got home while you have a shower for someone to wander by and mention it later to the wrong bloke down the pub.

When I lived at the nice end of a road with a dodgy area at the other end I would routinely do a couple of laps round the block if there was anyone I didn't like the look of hanging around when I got back.

Paranoid and a bit judgemental, maybe, but at the first line of security IMO is not giving anyone a reason to be sniffing around in the first place.

Am I missing something, how hard is it to just start and stop it at the end of your street? 😕

Set up a few privacy zones around your house (rather than just one based directly on top of it).
Have a garage made almost entirely of asbestos, so anyone smashing their way into it will get their comeuppance (and then some...)
Ride knackered old bikes that no-one would want to steal.

Seems to be working so far...

Thank God that my times are way to slow to post on Strava. 🙁

Again I amazed that people would keep thousands of pounds worth of bicycles in a shed or garage

I have literally thousands of pounds worth of car [i]just parked on the street[/i].

Am I missing something, how hard is it to just start and stop it at the end of your street?

I'm too forgetful and confused to be remembering to do that at the start and finish of every ride

I just name all my rides on strava something along the lines of:
"[b]That great ride with expensive bikes starting from Wwaswas' house, 34 duncton street, Eastbourne. BN26 etc etc[/b]"

I kind of puts the thieves off MY scent, if you know what I mean...

DrP

I usually 90% Of the time Start & Stop Mine outside a house where the Bloke "Owner" Reversed out of his drive and knocked me off my Bike last Summer.

Then had the audacity to swear at me and tell me to watch what i'm doing whilst swearing at me,
POLICE Involved..............
I'm hoping his Garage gets ripped open looking for my goodies, I've even taken a picture of it leaning Up against the hedge outside, still theres hope.

Again I amazed that people would keep thousands of pounds worth of bicycles in a shed or garage.

I usually 90% Of the time Start & Stop Mine outside a house where the Bloke "Owner" Reversed out of his drive and knocked me off my Bike last Summer.

Then had the audacity to swear at me and tell me to watch what i'm doing whilst swearing at me,
POLICE Involved..............
I'm hoping his Garage gets ripped open looking for my goodies, I've even taken a picture of it leaning Up against the hedge outside, still theres hope.

Bravo sir! 😆

kcal - Member
Mine have nicknames (sad, but I know what bike is which, defy anyone outwit close circle to identify them).

Yerbut, but.. calling them "the Wife" and "Sharon from Accounts" means we all see recorded on Strava "Just rode Sharon from Accounts all over the South Downs"

😆
😉

 

The multiple privicy zone feature is a bit disapointing as it only hides your ride within the privacy zone it was started in.

I blanked out the entire local area as I thought I'd go invisable miles before home. This wasn't the case, it was only 500m from home as that was the extent of the zone based on my postcode.

I had my bike nicked from my workshop (not a shed, but a stone built outhouse). Certainly targeted (didn't touch anything else) - I'm pretty sure it was a delivery driver who had a poke around when we were out. Now use collect plus for pretty much any delivery. Especially bike components. If a driver drops off a nice set of carbon wheels at your house, there certainly a bling bike around somewhere.

The multiple privicy zone feature is a bit disapointing as it only hides your ride within the privacy zone it was started in.

I blanked out the entire local area as I thought I'd go invisable miles before home. This wasn't the case, it was only 500m from home as that was the extent of the zone based on my postcode.

We were once followed by a van from outside a bike shop in Rotherham for over ten miles. We did quite a few detours through housing estates still been followed. Finally parked up on a car park and sat and waited till they had enough and drove off.
Try and have all parcels delivered to work and don't usually allow stuff we sell to be collected from home.
Cant be too careful.

Privacy zones only apply at the start and end of rides, and one is only applied if you start/stop in it. People have multiple or offset over their house so its not an obvious circle centred directly over their house. Of course it would be easier if strava just allowed you to draw the shape of your preffered zone (just having a 1mile radius means you lose any segments that start or end within that zone

This is my point, they dont work like you think.

The overlapping zones has no affect unless you start your ride in a different zone each time. No matter how many zones you have listed if you always start from home you'll form a circle with your house in the middle of it as only the privacy zone where the ride starts\finished is used , all others do not apply.

Tracy
Did you report the license plate tothepolice?

The overlapping zones has no affect unless you start your ride in a different zone each time. No matter how many zones you have listed if you always start from home you'll form a circle with your house in the middle of it as only the privacy zone where the ride starts\finished is used , all others do not apply.

I get what you mean but what if the start falls witihin say four similar but not the same privacy zone, ie the zones have a large amount of overlap. does strava not hide the start from all the zones. In effect four similar zones which have a large amount of overlap end up creating a more freeform privacy zone.

I have to say [i]flyby[/i] does seem to be just about the most perfect tool for bicycle thieves, and Strava was already probably quite handy...

Just pick an area, take a leisurely trundle around all the nice middleclass areas, you only need keep half an eye out for nice bikes because Strava will trace all the local rider's routes out for you...

A bit of light profile stalking and you'll have the approximate location of a dozen or so nice bikes, it's not beyond the wit of most tea-leaves to stake out a few roads to get precise locations...

Then wallop! having planned, for a week or two they could fill a transit inside of a couple of hours and be 200 miles away before the first theft is reported...

I'm definitely in the wrong business...

MrSalmon you can pack your number one bike down small. Even leaving wheels in the shed- F&F in a bike bag. Mitigate risk.

When I lived in a tiny studio in West Hampstead I had two bikes behind/under the bed and wheels in the back yard under minging cloth/tarp.

Large radius privacy zone around both home and work. Start and stop the Garmin at a location well away from the house for each ride even if that means riding past the house for a Km or so to get back to the starting point.

Bikes are imaginatively named: "Road"; "Commuter"; "MTB"

Not a lot you can do if you are being followed other than ride on if you realise it.

I have to say flyby does seem to be just about the most perfect tool for bicycle thieves, and Strava was already probably quite handy...

Just pick an area, take a leisurely trundle around all the nice middleclass areas, you only need keep half an eye out for nice bikes because Strava will trace all the local rider's routes out for you...

As I said, no need to even leave the house. Just pick a segment in a nice area and it will show you everyone who rode it today, or this week, etc. Look at their rides, pick a few other segments, see if they set a fastest time today, If not you can see their fastest time so you now have 2 of their rides, likely showing you a common location (home). You could now look on segment search for some other nearby segments, soon you will have 4 or 5 rides for that person and a pretty good idea of where their home zone is (or house exactly as so many STILL don't have privacy zones). This will take 2 min tops, and is really easy.

Another thing, if you are making your profile private, and your flyby private, I hope you are not in any open groups (like say 'Singletrackworld.com Forumites') as everyone can see your rides.

I have literally thousands of pounds worth of car just parked on the street.

Get good insurance.

Apologies if someone upthread has posted the link, but here's Strava's description of the privacy settings - https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/216918777-Privacy-Settings

This:
"[i]You will not appear on any segment leaderboard that starts/stops within your Privacy Zone and you cannot hold or earn any KOMs/CRs on those segments. Removing a Privacy Zone will reinstate your segment matches and any associated KOMs/CRs.[/i]"

Isn't quite right, I'm in the public top ten of a segment that finishes well within my privacy zone but I finished the ride outside my privacy zone and it logged as a top ten time.

Thousands of pounds of car on the street? That same highly desirable car with carbon panels, hi spec parts, desirable suspension with the key left in the ignition ready to spirit away and easy to sell on? Where people will target you?

Scary analogy's abound dude

and another thing where technology lets people down programing your address as home into your sat nav, somebody nicks your car, home keys on key ring drives straight home and nicks your stuff.

use an address nearby for home and 2 sets of keys one for home and one for vehicle, simple but people still get done over by not doing it.

Thousands of pounds of car on the street? That same highly desirable car with carbon panels, hi spec parts, desirable suspension with the key left in the ignition ready to spirit away and easy to sell on? Where people will target you?

Your analogys shite mate, i keep my shed locked and the bikes locked inside that .,,,ergo its not got its keys in it.

Also - houses are not secure at all- they have large easy to break highly see through shopping panels. You are not there every hour of every day to play guard dog either.