Bike stolen in front of BedStuy Y

jonesy1972 · July 2009

Just wanted to send a shout out to people who bike to the YMCA in BedStuy (and peeps in general): last night around 7pm-ish, my bike got jacked in broad daylight. Despite it being securely locked up with a Krypto, and this being one of the highest foot-traffic times at the gym, it still got stolen. I had my bike (a dark blue Diamondback Apex) for 15 years (RIP)!

When I went in to speak with the manager, she didn't really seem to care much--but by the time I left she'd informed me that about 5 or 6 bikes had been stolen from out front since the beginning of summer and seemed dismayed about it. While it is my responsibility to properly lock my bike (and to be aware that it might get stolen), if I had been informed that there was a rash of bike thefts out front, I would have taken extra precautions to pop off the seat/put on an auxiliary lock, etc. etc. Any establishment with paying members, such as the Y, should make that information public, as a matter of course.

In the meantime, I just wanted to send out a note to remind people to keep an eye on your belongings, lock up your bikes properly, and keep your wits about you.

This StreetFilms video, by Hal at Bike Habitat (where I bought my ride back in the day, incidentally), is very informative to those who'd like to know the best (and worst) ways to lock your bike, if you're gonna leave it on the street:

http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/hal-grades-your-bike-locking/

Be safe!

tennisfan · July 2009

Sorry for your loss.
Don't they have a surveillance camera right outside of the YMCA? I know they have plenty inside. But I think it would also make sense to place one right outside. Should we petition for that?

todd whitney · July 2009

Definitely sorry that your bike was stolen. I had one stolen last year and it hurt. The truth of the matter is that a good thief always gets what they want. Mine was stolen in broad daylight near the Flea Market in Ft. Greene. There must have been hundreds of people in the area and the thief still took it.

Now I have to go outside (at work) and make sure that my bike is still there.

darieus · July 2009

Sorry you lost your bike. What lock did you use and how was it compromised?

jonesy1972 · July 2009

Hey Darius--i used a Kryptonite, woven steel cable lock. Easy to get through with a bolt cutter, yes. For my future ride, I plan on getting a heavy square chain link (and a cheap bike!). But again, any angle grinder can chew through any lock, from the cheapest to the toughest. Buyer (or should I say "biker" beware!)

Todd Whitney--As you'll see if you watch the StreetFilm I posted a link to earlier, Hal says it best--bike thieves are notorious for jacking bikes off of busy streets--they'll even use power tools in a busy street and go unchallenged much of the time. Quieter streets are a different story, strangely...

Tennisfan--they have surveillance cameras out front, but they are super poor quality and would do nothing to actually ID the thief. more for time of the crime, perhaps method used to steal, etc. etc.

won't ub my nabor · July 2009

My fiance's bicycle got stolen from in front of the Y once. I don't know what type of lock he had, but it wasn't a rinky dink lock. Afterwords, he bought a new bike and an even more robust lock. Apparently the lock worked, because the thieves didn't take his bike -- but they did heist his front wheel! This was at least a year or so ago...

boygabriel · July 2009

lock your wheels people!

rtraindweller · July 2009

I feel you. Mine was stolen last night from my front yard, securely chained and locked to the fence with a super heavy construction strength chain and lock. My guess is he jimmied my lock because there's no sign of cutting the chain. I feel so absurdly lost now as well.

That said I will echo you in telling everyone to do your damn best to securely lock your bikes. Kryptonite (which i was not using, stupidly) offers a big selection of assorted chains and U locks. I plan on locking up with both next time (chain through the frame and one wheel, U lock through the other).

check out their stuff:
https://www.kryptonitelock.com/Products/List.aspx?cid=1001&scid=1002

jack krohn · July 2009

Sorry to hear this. I love my bike and would be really pissed if it were stolen. I've always kept mine in my apartment, even though my building offers basement storage. When I ride, I never lock it up anywhere, ever. Ride around and then come straight home. As extreme as this approach might be, it's worked well for me. Of course, I realize that this wouldn't work for bikers who commute, but for those who don't, it's worth considering.

Bike stolen in front of BedStuy Y

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