Stolen Brompton

[Jurek]

Not sure where to put this, so for the moment it's in here.

A couple of my friends who have Bromptons (as well as other bikes) got married recently.
As a wedding prezzie, I gave them a pair ot TiGr Titanium D-locks.
Last night in Bermondsey, one of the Bromptons was stolen and an attempt was made on the other.
I'm not going to comment on why Bromptons were left locked up outside....
However, note that the thieves weapon of choice for cutting the locks was a blow torch.
Be careful out there, people.

[Little Jim]

Commiserations, that is annoying to say the least.

When you say that they cut the locks with a "blow torch" do you mean one of the propane powered jobs that a plumber would use rather than an oxyacetylene cutter? 

[Jurek]

I don't know - I wasn't given more details than that.
I can't see a propane torch generating enough heat to cut titanium.

[quixoticgeek]

I don't know - I wasn't given more details than that.
I can't see a propane torch generating enough heat to cut titanium.

Seems a bit over kill given that a decent quality hacksaw will go through those locks just fine.

Half the point of a Brompton is you can fold it up and store it inside safely. Why on earth would you lock it up anywhere?!?!?

J

[Jurek]

I don't know - I wasn't given more details than that.
I can't see a propane torch generating enough heat to cut titanium.

Seems a bit over kill given that a decent quality hacksaw will go through those locks just fine.

Half the point of a Brompton is you can fold it up and store it inside safely. Why on earth would you lock it up anywhere?!?!?

J

I've been asking myself the same question....

[quixoticgeek]

I've been asking myself the same question....

That lock really isn't suitable for such things either:

https://youtu.be/WZ0UCzi0Tpg?t=850

The bare minimum, IMHO, for a bike lock in any urban environment is one of these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtdiO1ZiiXk

And even then it's going to just slow thieves down, not stop them entirely. Esp for such a high value bike as a Brompton.

J

[rogerzilla]

Sawing titanium is difficult because it galls.  Maybe they knew what they were doing with the torch.

[quixoticgeek]

Sawing titanium is difficult because it galls.  Maybe they knew what they were doing with the torch.

Difficult, but surprisingly quick given a new blade, see video above.

J

[hubner]

Video at 14min 20 sec, took 15 seconds to cut through with a hacksaw, as if it was mild steel.

[Kim]

Half the point of a Brompton is you can fold it up and store it inside safely. Why on earth would you lock it up anywhere?!?!?

Because this is BRITAIN and that's a bicycle, and you're not bringing it in here.  Go and lock it to the plastic drainpipe by the bin store, where it belongs!

[grams]

I suspect someone was confused by sparks flying from a cordless angle grinder. I can't imagine a bike thief carrying a gas axe around just in case they encounter a titanium lock.

[quixoticgeek]

Because this is BRITAIN and that's a bicycle, and you're not bringing it in here.  Go and lock it to the plastic drainpipe by the bin store, where it belongs!

Fine. I'll take my business elsewhere then.

J

[De Sisti]

I don't know - I wasn't given more details than that.
I can't see a propane torch generating enough heat to cut titanium.

Were you not a least bit suspicious of their story, especially as they didn't elaborate on why they
didn't take their (portable) bikes inside with them?

[hubner]

My guess is it was outside something like a restaurant or pub, or shop.

As mentioned, it was probably an angle grinder.

[Gattopardo]

I don't know - I wasn't given more details than that.
I can't see a propane torch generating enough heat to cut titanium.

Generates enough heat to weaken it to break easily.

[hatler]

Bummer.

[hatler]

And if an attempt was made on the other, the marks on that should indicate if it was a gas cutter or an angle grinder.

[Greenbank]

Arguments about blow torch temperatures are pretty pointless when the bike has been stolen.

Those TiGr locks are massively hyped and relatively shit, as are almost all bike locks, especially if people are determined enough.

There's no lock good enough for all but my crappy hack bike to be left locked on the street, and even then the locks are worth more than the bike itself.

That's the sad fact about the UK (or at least major metropolises such as London).

[Kim]

You irregular reminder that locks don't stop your bike being stolen.  They're to meet the insurance requirements and hopefully ensure someone else's bike gets stolen first.

[Jurek]

I suspect someone was confused by sparks flying from a cordless angle grinder. I can't imagine a bike thief carrying a gas axe around just in case they encounter a titanium lock.

I think that you are probably on the money with that contention.

[quixoticgeek]

There's no lock good enough for all but my crappy hack bike to be left locked on the street, and even then the locks are worth more than the bike itself.

That's the sad fact about the UK (or at least major metropolises such as London).

Applies to most western nations too.

You irregular reminder that locks don't stop your bike being stolen.  They're to meet the insurance requirements and hopefully ensure someone else's bike gets stolen first.

Well quite.

J

[ian]

I hate to say it, but I'd assume a Brompton locked outside in London would have the sort of half-life normally associated with exotic man-made heavy nuclear isotopes. Locks never stop anything. It's a well-known, high-value bicycle that will resell.

Not excusing it, and it's quite sad in a way because it's not the fault of the owners – you ought to be able to lock a bike outside and go for a pint and expect it to be there when you come back. And a curse on the people who buy stolen bikes. If there wasn't a market, it wouldn't happen so often.