Looks like the bike thieves are back ...

[Cubanbreeze]

We live just off the Bellenden Road. On Monday morning we found our shed door swinging open, as was the door to the passage that runs down the side of our house - from where we have had two bikes stolen over the last year, both at weekends. Luckily, they didn't get anything this time (and you won't in the future, either, bike thieves, if you're reading this).

I wondered: has anyone else noticed anything similar recently?

[taper]

Yep. i know of a couple of incidents like this around Bellenden in the last couple of months.

[alachlan]

Yes - sometime between November and early January we had one go from our shed, off Melboure Grove. They'd have to have climbed in over the wall too.

[ingridcjones]

Yes - one disappeared from our shed in derwent grove. At first we thought we had managed to leave it unlocked but reading these posts I am now thinking it was stolen.... Can these people slip door bolts easily? Am now thinking we need a v sturdy pad lock on the door in addition.

[oilworker]

You need at least three levels of security - firstly there must be a decent lock on the shed door (but be aware that if the hinges are held on with accessible screws they will simply un-screw them and go in that way instead - use butt hinges instead of gate hinges), then the bikes inside the shed should be locked to something heavy (or each other) using a HEAVY DUTY padlock and chain - i.e. something with the gold security level specifically for motorbikes or bikes - these cost anything up to GBP 100 - then also fit your shed with an alarm if at all possible. We had a battery operated one which works fine but you need to keep re-charging the batteries every two weeks or so which is a pain. I eventually laid a cable (armoured of course) to the shed and now have an alrm on mains power.

If you do the above you will dter all but the most determined of thieves who will in all likelihood find an easier target. The outlay seems a lot but if you have expensive bikes then I would say it is definitely worth it.

Oh and the other thing is thieves HATE metal sheds since they are much more difficult and really noisy to break into!!

[Polly D]

Another bike nicked, from locked side door alleyway, and bike was chained. From upland road. Bloody fed up of this!

[Pearson]

Hey Polly, Sorry to hear about your loss.

Can you give us more details on how the bike was secured so we can take appropriate measures.

Ie what kind of lock secured to what etc.

This really would be helpful.

Thanks

P/