Securing Bikes in Your House

[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!

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/62...g-bikes-in-nyc

[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..."

[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!

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/62...g-bikes-in-nyc

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

[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.