Securing Bikes in Your House

[Aggie_Ama]

Austin has been plagued by high end bike thefts lately. The most recent hit a friend and pried open his door, making off with all his bikes and bike tools. We would like to set up a system in our garage to store them but keep them secure. With our stable we don't have room to store in the house. We're at 5.5 bikes with eyes on a single speed and maybe a cross bike for me. DH has 3.5 (one is a single speed work in progress) and has a new mountain bike on order but won't be getting rid of his. In theory we could be nearing 9 some day in the not so far future.....

I am thinking somehow bolt racks to the ground using concrete anchors? Then getting a good heavy duty lock. That will at least make it more than a grab and go operation. Our house faces a busy street where we know many of the neighbors who don't work our hours. So we could easily have someone who knows what we got, we try not to let on the value but anyone who cared could figure it out.

[tangentgirl]

Stolen right from the house - that sucks.

You could get something like this if you can drill into the garage floor: http://www.outdoorbikeracks.net/Customkititems.asp?kc=BQ116%2D1005

Then lock your bikes to that.

[Biciclista]

when I go out of town I lock my bike inside the garage (not attached to anything, but with a Kryptonite D lock). That gives me a little confidence.
Bike thieves are lazy, if you make it a little difficult for them, they'll leave the best bikes behind and grab a junkier one.
I like the bolts into the concrete thing though!

[Eden]

when I go out of town I lock my bike inside the garage (not attached to anything, but with a Kryptonite D lock). That gives me a little confidence.
Bike thieves are lazy, if you make it a little difficult for them, they'll leave the best bikes behind and grab a junkier one.
I like the bolts into the concrete thing though!

Bike thieves sneer at a bike locked only to itself.... (ask me about the one I had stolen from a locked inside room at college. It was indoors in a room set aside for bike storage and had the frame locked to the front wheel with a U-lock). Since they can walk off with it and break the lock at their leisure its no problem - a nice angle grinder will make short work of the lock.

[Aggie_Ama]

Actually the ones hitting Austin are anything but lazy. Have known 3 people had them stolen when locked to their car. In one case they only took 1 or 3, the nicest one which was in the middle. The guy broken into they pried the door to his apartment open. I want to make it where if they try they will attract attention, they probably won't hit my area since I am way outside of town but they are definitely casing their targets. Local cops I have spoke to agree. :(

[smilingcat]

Keep an eye out for a person who doesn't fit at an event such as Crits, TTs. He may be using the events to find his targets. If I were the thief, I think that is where I would start or look at bike shops who are sponsoring training rides.

My bikes are locked in my bedroom. Never in garage. My sister had her mountain bike stolen out of the garage. And it was locked to something.

[Veronica]

How about alarming your house?

Veronica

[marni]

you could go the gun route- bring your bike into the house, remove the wheels and store them in one locked cabinet or closet, remove the seat and store it in a locked cabinet elsewhere and then take the frame, lock it to something large and immoveable and store it in a secure third locked location and then alarm your house. It depends on how much your bike (s) are worth.

My daughter lives in austin but hwat she has is a clunker so she is not too worried although I have convinced her to bring the bike in off her balconey, take the wheels off and store them in her car trunk and secure the frame to the beframe as she can't afford to lose it and replace it at this point in her life.

[NbyNW]

I've been thinking about installing one of these (http://www.dobradesign.com/interior.php) in my garage, but haven't gotten around to it.

[Aggie_Ama]

Smiling Cat - Yup, we have one in jail right now. Caught casing people and had a large amount of stolen bikes in his possession. He even robbed a girl he was using the cover of trying to date. The community is starting to wonder if we have another.

Veronica - That is planned.

Marni - I have a no handgun policy in our house. Had a friend murdered and have never felt the same about them. Plus with an ever expanding stable there isn't enough room unless we double the size of our house!

[Biciclista]

I'm not going to lose sleep over losing my bike in my house. If you lock it and that's still not enough, I'm sorry you had such rotten luck. Your idea about an alarm is a good one.
I think Marni was suggesting you take your bike apart the way others take guns apart to keep them safe too. (But i could be wrong)

[Becky]

I think Marni was suggesting you take your bike apart the way others take guns apart to keep them safe too. (But i could be wrong)

That's how I read it too. It's pretty common practice...

[Pedal Wench]

Most of mine are locked onto the hot water heater in a closet.
Edit - with alarms on all the doors and a motion sensor alarm. :)

[Catrin]

Smiling Cat - what do you lock your bikes to? I have raised the limit of my renters insurance (replacement cost) and after thinking about it will probably raise it again.

My apartment front door is quite solid, metal, and has two deadbolt locks - only one of which can be unlocked from the outside - you can't even tell from the outside that a second deadbolt exists. Of course there is a patio sliding door - but they would have to literally break the glass to get inside and that is quite the attention getter.

After reading this discussion and thinking about it, I've moved my Gunnar into my bedroom where I never open the blinds, which means I now have Gunnar and Jamis is in the bedroom and LHT in living room. If I open the blinds all the way in the living room the LHT is right there, but I rarely do that and a bike thief in the know would know it isn't a very expensive bike.

I do not have a locked closet or anything that I can really chain my bikes to, this is just a small 1-bedroom apartment.

Good topic, thought provoking.

[marni]

Aggie Ama

actually I have a no handgun policy as well. I was trying to convey the idea of keeping bits and pieces secure in different locked locations the same way someone would if they had to have a handgun in the house and had any brain cells at all.

[Aggie_Ama]

I'm not going to lose sleep over losing my bike in my house. If you lock it and that's still not enough, I'm sorry you had such rotten luck. Your idea about an alarm is a good one.
I think Marni was suggesting you take your bike apart the way others take guns apart to keep them safe too. (But i could be wrong)

Ah, re-read it and see that too. Scariest thing is a friend had his house broken into and the thieves used a tool he had for trail building to pry open his gun safe. They made off with $20k in guns and a lot of piece of mind he had for his two young daughters. It was a safe he was recommended by a retired FBI agent.

Is there a way to have your alarm system programmed to arm a garage too? We cannot fit this many bikes in the house unless we completely use one entire room for them. I am also looking at doing a rider on my homeowners.

[TxDoc]

Is there a way to have your alarm system programmed to arm a garage too? We cannot fit this many bikes in the house unless we completely use one entire room for them.

Yes, a good alarm system will allow you to connect as many 'doors' as you wish - so you can include your house entrance, a garage door, an outdoors gate, patio door, etc. Also, if the system is properly set up, you will be able to select the arming parameters for each door (and window/other sensor), i.e. whether it allows a certain delay between opening each door and triggering the alarm - or alarm immediately.
If there are several thefts in the area, I would suggest a good alarm system and possibly including CCTV.
Don't rely on the standard systems sold as packages, customize it. Add door and windows sensors, glass break and vibration sensors (in case someone tries to break a window glass or drill a hole in your door), and indoor sensors (motion/sound/light/proximity). If especially concerned about the bikes you can set a perimeter around them and you will also receive specific event signals when that perimeter is broken (someone walks in).
As per cameras, one good trick is to place your cameras in hidden and protected locations, and then place a few cameras on a separate circuit in visible places. That way, both circuits would be silently connected to the alarm system - but you could set your protected cameras on motion detection and record anyone trying to tamper with your visible cameras. But - use real cameras as your visible ones instead of decoys, so they still record additional hard evidence. The dual system prevents someone from blinding them all at the same time.
The silent connection of the CCTV would be useful because it would trigger the alarm 'silently' i.e. send the signal to you and law enforcement but not start a siren. That way, the burglar is unaware that the alarm has already been triggered. By the time the burglars break in and set off the alarm system (and the siren sounds), you and the cops already have the video of their faces and license plate #s, and cops may even already be at your house.

Anothr good trick is to always make your alarm system redundant: one wireless circuit on broadband, duplicate the connections on the phone landline, and then use a cell repeater as well. Have IP cameras and hard-wired CCTV streaming to DVR or tape, keep a main computer running the sysem and a backup computer (possibly a laptop with a battery).
The redundance helps you because in the worst case scenario where the burglars are committed enough to cut a landline or a cable or shut off your breakers - the battery operated systems and computer will still run on a separate line and stream through the cell phone system to record the events and send the alarm to you and law enforcement.
It would take a very prepared and committed thief to disable all systems in a short time and make it out before law enforcement arrives. Sure there's some good thiefs out there - but if your alarm is enough of a deterrent, it makes the amount of work needed much higher than the value of a bicycle, and the burglars will likely decide to move and target someone else.


I am also looking at doing a rider on my homeowners.

Another good idea, yes. Several policies allow ou to schedule things like bicycles, cameras, jewelry, etc. It's definitely worth it.

And, a couple of big guard dogs with free access to the garage may help too... ;)

[Miranda]

We cannot fit this many bikes in the house unless we completely use one entire room for them. I am also looking at doing a rider on my homeowners.

As big as "bike people" that you are now... why not do this? Seriously. I've literally removed furniture in rooms, and parked cars outside the garage, to make more bike space.



Another good idea, yes. Several policies allow ou to schedule things like bicycles, cameras, jewelry, etc. It's definitely worth it.

And, a couple of big guard dogs with free access to the garage may help too... ;)

I have mine scheduled as a rider on my home owner's insurance as well. I thought the rates were responable... especially considering what my bikes are worth to me in my life.

It's funny you say that about the dogs. Because for one thing it is true. Some tv show about thieves once I heard of said a dog is the number one deterent for thieves. The thief would figure out how to cut the security system before they would want to mess with the dog.

When we had a bike theft attempt at our house it was when my late blonde lab was sick. It was shortly before I had to put her down, and she was simply too sick to bark. Otherwise, no one got near my house without me knowing it. The thieves came into the lighted garage, tried to pull my mtb outta the bike rack, and with the front glass door clearing showing me sitting at my pc from the road... that's some b*lls man... just my bike they were after... the most expensive one in the rack.

Stealin peeps are crazy!:eek::mad:

p.s Edit Add: that bike is inside the house now, btw... yep, mtb mud in the knobbies and all... sitting right in my formal dining room... with white carpet, and victorian drapes... room is rarely ever used for dining... been thinking about taking out the table to make a better set up for the bikes! The carbon roadie sleeps across from the foot of my bed... and I did take out furniture there as well to make room for the bike lol.

[Aggie_Ama]

Right now we have our guest bed covered in various bike parts, two carbon roadies in the room leaning against walls. The room is tiny so we might be able to fit one more bike but it is a PITA to take them out of our house, garage is much easier. My mountain bike, DH's mountain bike that is complete, his cross bike sit along side of the garage, right next to our car. The work in progress singlespeed is on the other side along with boxes that have been following us for 8 years of marriage. My goal is an organized and secure garage. Where I can go out, unlock my chosen steed and go. If my mountain bike is covered in dust and grim so what. I am using a self-help book to get my house to be uncluttered and organized. This is just one of my many stress and pain points that I would like to not be bothering me. :)

[DebSP]

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6257899/stealing-bikes-in-nyc
:confused:

[sundial]

I was in a motorcycle shop and noticed an anti-theft/motion alert alarm system for the motorcycle. Perhaps this is another option?

[Geonz]

I think we're long overdue for some creative technology applications for bicycle security. If people can do a "lojack" thing for their cars & laptops, why not bicycles? Motion activated cameras would be a good idea.
I'd also be tempted to set up some old-fashioned "bucket of slime on your head" options... tho' I wouldn't want to incite rage, either, on general principle. Or, motion detectors that activate lights and/or sounds that would simply freak a person out (or activate flash cameras).
I've long wanted a special "Onstar" option -- so that if my bike moves and I don't do the programmed response, the thief gets a message that "this is onstar. If you do not activate the sequence, we shall activate the squirtseat in five seconds."

[Biciclista]

well they CAN do Lojack, but that's a big gizmo to stick on a bike. But I agree! especially considering how many engineers ride bikes!!

[Aggie_Ama]

I found a few available to law enforcement. We had this discussion on a local board and I thought someone linked to one available to normal folk but it required frequent battery changing. I am sure it will be available at some point.

[Miranda]

I think we're long overdue for some creative technology applications for bicycle security. If people can do a "lojack" thing for their cars & laptops, why not bicycles? Motion activated cameras would be a good idea.
I'd also be tempted to set up some old-fashioned "bucket of slime on your head" options... tho' I wouldn't want to incite rage, either, on general principle. Or, motion detectors that activate lights and/or sounds that would simply freak a person out (or activate flash cameras).
I've long wanted a special "Onstar" option -- so that if my bike moves and I don't do the programmed response, the thief gets a message that "this is onstar. If you do not activate the sequence, we shall activate the squirtseat in five seconds."

Or, better yet...
"...if you do not release the bicycle immediate, and vacate the premesis, the hounds of hell will be released from the other side of the doggie door into this garage..." :eek:

[Miranda]

Right now we have our guest bed covered in various bike parts, two carbon roadies in the room leaning against walls. The room is tiny so we might be able to fit one more bike but it is a PITA to take them out of our house, garage is much easier. My mountain bike, DH's mountain bike that is complete, his cross bike sit along side of the garage, right next to our car. The work in progress singlespeed is on the other side along with boxes that have been following us for 8 years of marriage. My goal is an organized and secure garage. Where I can go out, unlock my chosen steed and go. If my mountain bike is covered in dust and grim so what. I am using a self-help book to get my house to be uncluttered and organized. This is just one of my many stress and pain points that I would like to not be bothering me. :)

Good for you!:):cool:

I finished that Clutter Busting book I posted about here, and have been at it ever since! It is such a great feeling when you are ready to let go of things that no longer serve your life. While I do have my bikes inside, I agree about the garage and convenience. I would like one bike that I mainly cruise short rides by home alone, or with the kids to be in the garage. I have a space cleared out to bolt down some rack to lock it to. However, it's only wood atm. I like the idea of drilling into the cement to make it a bit more secure.

[Miranda]

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6257899/stealing-bikes-in-nyc
:confused:

Wow... what a vid!

[hulagirl]

I highly recommend Kryptonite locks. They have certain models that come with anti-theft protection for up to $3500. Up to 3 years of protection I think. And they sell anchors that you can bolt the bike to.

We do this when we leave town. And we also have home owners insurance which does cover the bikes.

[Catrin]

Much to my pleasant surprise, I've learned my renters insurance will cover the loss of my bikes no matter where I am in the world - literally. For some reason I had assumed that they had to be stolen from my apartment for them to be covered - not so :)

I need to raise my coverage anyway :o

[Azurah]

We keep our road bikes in our bedroom. We live in the back house in a fenced/walled in yard with two huge dogs guarding the outside and a small, very yappy dog inside.

[Aggie_Ama]

Miranda- I am reading one called "Throw out 50 Things". Same concept as the one you mentioned and saw it at the bookstore so why not try? I am thinking those racks posted by someone earlier set where the wheels are secured front and back. Then locked. Overkill? Maybe but I didn't like the feeling of my bike being stolen in 5th grade and it was painful to have to replace my Gary Fisher when the bike was damaged. I know some people could relate, I truly felt like I had to grieve for it. I wasn't expecting to lose the bike, expected one day I might want to replace it.

My homeowner's covers the bike but as a learned with our wreck and the totaled Gary Fisher, a $1,500 deductible is steep. So we are looking at a rider which has a lower deductible.