We are all guilty of running late to work or school from time to time. For bicyclists rushing to finish their commute and get to where they need to be, it can be easy to accidentally leave a bike locked insecurely. Unfortunately, thieves are constantly on the lookout for bikes that can be quickly stolen. If you make the mistake of locking your bike to an insecure object such as a signpost, you make it an easy target for theft. Taking just a few extra moments to find a bike rack or other secure object could save you much grief later on.
At first glance, signposts may seem like a perfectly good object for securing your bike. You may have even thought to compare the size of the sign to the size of your lock; if the lock can't slip past the sign at the top then it must be secure, right? Wrong. Many people underestimate the lengths to which thieves will go to steal a bike. Most signs are attached to posts with a few simple bolts, which can be removed with a wrench in a matter of seconds. Once the sign has been removed, the bike can be slipped over the top of the signpost, lock and all.
Outsmarting Bike Thieves
Bike thieves will not hesitate to quickly unbolt a sign if it means they can get away with a nice bike, or even just a functional bike. This type of theft regularly happens not just at night, but midday as well. Many people will not even notice or think twice about someone messing with a bike lock. Since it is illegal in many areas to lock a bike to a signpost, a bike thief can simply claim that he or she is removing the bike to be impounded. It really is that easy.
The first step to securing a bike is a quality, sturdy lock, but having a great lock will do you no good if you fail to lock your bike to a secure object. Don't let yourself become a victim of theft. Always lock your bike to a bike rack when possible and use a sturdy lock to keep it secure.
Contact Us
For more bike locking tips, or to purchase a quality lock at an affordable price, please contact the bike locks experts of A & Js’ Bike Locks at 708-460-2999.
