Couple exploring the country after creating fully sustainable vehicles
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"Sucks that the bike and trailer were stolen. Bike thieves, pretty low." Lots of local bike theft in Western Washington I'm afraid. IMHO, bike theft=drugs. Mill Creek is an upscale area, but surrounded by semi-rural trailer park life and typical crack/meth issues. You simply can't leave a bike unlocked if it is out of your reach and the locks need to be good ones. I read one account of a bike trekker who stopped under an overpass and made a phone call with his back to his bike and some low life hopped on it and rode away with his whole kit. Scenes like this are all too common.
Using a U-lock is a good start, but it needs to be used properly and wheels need to be locked too. I wouldn't leave a bike out overnight in any urban setting, regardless of the locks used. My next door neighbor left his bike unlocked outside the local grocery store "for a minute" and it was stolen. We live in a relatively low crime area, but I at least use a small chain that normally locks my seat if I'm at the grocer or post office; otherwise it is a hardened chain and cable for the wheels or U-lock and cable. A local bike shop had a smash-and-grab, taking the front window out with a pickax and a $5k electric bike was stolen. It popped up on Craigslist the next day for $200. My daughter was going to college in Bellingham, WA and the bike thefts there were epic. Same issues at trailheads. Never leave anything valuable or visible in your car. In fact, move items to the trunk BEFORE you get to the trailhead as thieves will watch from the bushes as you get ready to head out.
Using a U-lock is a good start, but it needs to be used properly and wheels need to be locked too. I wouldn't leave a bike out overnight in any urban setting, regardless of the locks used. My next door neighbor left his bike unlocked outside the local grocery store "for a minute" and it was stolen. We live in a relatively low crime area, but I at least use a small chain that normally locks my seat if I'm at the grocer or post office; otherwise it is a hardened chain and cable for the wheels or U-lock and cable. A local bike shop had a smash-and-grab, taking the front window out with a pickax and a $5k electric bike was stolen. It popped up on Craigslist the next day for $200. My daughter was going to college in Bellingham, WA and the bike thefts there were epic. Same issues at trailheads. Never leave anything valuable or visible in your car. In fact, move items to the trunk BEFORE you get to the trailhead as thieves will watch from the bushes as you get ready to head out.- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
