Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge What can I do to prevent theft?

Hey Guys,

I moved to Toronto (Mississauga) in August 2010 from the states. Everything is good. Next week I am moving to the square one area and apparently there are a lot of bike thefts. Wish I would have known this before I signed the lease!

The thefts occur in underground condo parking. We have remotes for the doors and there is supposed to be security (I am guessing just cameras). Bikes with disc locks, chains, alarms, and wall eyebolts are being stolen!

Seems to mostly be after sport bikes, but the occasional cruiser gets snatched as well. Almost, makes me wish I bought an ugly bike instead of this beautiful speedy!!!

What can I do to prevent theft?

my bike-
http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...ge=3#Post496921


Post from GTAmotorcycle.com-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nza3yANincA

“That really sucks.. Seems like Condos in the SQ1 area are a popular choice for theives..
A Business associate of mine had his Harley stolen a week ago. He was away on a business trip and had disc locks front and rear, A Alarm and a hardened steel chain running through both wheels and the frame and a hardened eyebolt into a concrete wall. His car was also parked right in front of it..
They must have used a angle grinder with a cutoff wheel judging by the amount of metal filings.
You're right, If they want it,, they're gonna get it.
Hope you get it back or a least a fair settlement from the insurance.”

“Brutal, yeah I'm in the square one area too at a condo, its really bad for bike thefts around this area, there was a time 2 years ago I parked the bike here, I had a cover over it, and the cover was locked on, came down one day, kickstand was up, and it was laying on the hood of the car, before that the chainguard went missing(It did not vibrate loose)!
So that week I moved it to a new location, there WERE 3 other bikes parked at my building, the next week one night the bikes were ALL stolen via the method you described, and I showed up with mine the day after, and security was shocked asking me how I got mine back, where did the cops find it... I had to explain it wasn't there the night of the thefts..
Anyways, point being Sq1 Area is brutal for bike thefts, sorry to hear about yours, you'd think modern condos in the undergrounds would have a garage door on every space, that would help some. I've just seen so many posts on there that I don't think any kind of alarm, lock, chain works if they want it, best defence is outta sight outta mind.”

“Bye, bye baby.....ZX6R stolen...
Oh well, I'm sure the fairings have been yanked off and replaced by now, but last night at 2100hrs this is what my baby looked like....
[pic]
Bye, Bye baby....... ”

Only one thing worse than a theif and thats a bike theif.

Okay well there are worse things but they really tick me off.

Truth is if they want it, they will take it and theres sweet FA you can do to stop them except maybe camp out with your motorcycle and be armed up. My advice is get insurance or move somewhere safer....err like Australia.

Nice lookin ride by the way. I don't think our bikes are really targeted by theives generally but you do have some nice accessories fitted. To me it does not look like a very good place to park as they can do what they like undetected. Is there any alternatives for parking? I prefer where there are people around because no one likes to be seen stealing. If not I would make sure I was right under one of those CCTV cameras. Can you rig up a camera yourself that could feed directly to your apartment?

Good luck.

can you get a spot beside a really serious pillar and use a heavy duty chain?

You can try "PODS" or something similar...
http://www.storagecontainer.com/

How the F can someone, or a group, run an angle grinder in
the garage, and nobody notices it???????
Just askin'
Uncle Charlie

Gotta wonder if the parking attendants are in on it and tip the thieves off to a bike being available. My mom had her brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee stolen a few years ago. It too was parked in a locked parking garage with cameras and security guards. She left it there to take a flight for vacation, came back and it was gone. Insurance bought her a new one but still sucks.

thanks for the ideas!

i like the idea of the storage container, but they are expensive! i guess cheaper than trying to outfit a new bike though...however, if brindle is right and they wont stand up to an angle grinder, then there is no point.

i talked to the condo people, basically said they will kick my @ss if i lag bolt their concrete, which sucks because i already have a hammer drill and bits.

Uncle Charlie - How can someone run an angle grinder in a concrete garage and no one notice - The Dog33 - parking attendants are in on it...think that abut sums it up in my opinion.

i saw this-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOoEWv_QAio&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OShxcGiJYg&NR=1

so now i am thinking bolt cutters or an angle grinder can get through anything, BUT the thicker it is the longer it takes (depending on hardness). so, what do you guys think about ship anchor chain? i found SS chain with 20 mm links (width=68, lenght=78) and bigger. looking for a hardened one right now. This chain would be too big for anyone with normal bolt cutters right? also, if i can fin a hardened chain, would it take longer than a night to get through it?

thanks

sorry,

forgot about the easiest solution. alternative parking - not much out here. i could rent a house garage or storage locked, but the long walk (>20 min one way) would be more than i am willing to do on a daily basis this summer. thats cutting into riden time!!!

Do they have LoJack in Canada?

what do you guys about these so called untouchable chains and disc locks?

http://www.elitesecuritysupplies.com/locks_and_chains.htm

http://www.elitesecuritysupplies.com/motorcycle_secuirty_disc_locks_padlocks_u_locks.html

What about a Cycle Shell or a Bike Barn? Put it in your parking spot and lock it up.

Hi Soren,

Thanks, I forgot about lojack! I looked them up and yes they have another company that does it under the lojack name here in Canada. I am thinking that the GPS trackers may be a better way to go because the lojack is hardwired. no battery = no power apparently. the GPS guys have a battery backup and a stronger signal.

the cycle shell is an interesting idea, but if i was a thief i would wonder 'whats under that tent thingy? must be expensive"

http://www.elitesecuritysupplies.com/motorcycle_asset_tracking_system.html

http://www.gpssecuritysystem.com/

I suppose that you could hire some ex-marines with automatic weapons to stand guard 24/7.

Along with LoJack you would want to lock things up still. But, with LoJack vs other GPS stuff, it notifies the cops automaticly if it is stolen and has a battery back up in case the power is shut off. My wife had it on the Honda she use to have. If someone moved her bike without here near it (she had a electronic key fob thing that she needed to be within a few feet of the bike when it was moved), it would notify LoJack and call her right away.

Sorry, i am just freaking out a little!! hahaha

lojack will be fine and a chain would not "hurt" anything buy my wallet. i guess i am going to have to wait just a little longer for that 813 cam...

Off site storage building is the only real answer. You could put up a camera of your own to catch the thiefs and prosecute. Chances are the parking attendants are in on it then sue the crap out of the condo company. It will stop then.

You sound like you want to keep your bike so rent a storage building and put her up. Its inconvenient, but its that or get out of the lease you can often do that in the first month or so.

You could get a junker (one that looks good at a glance but a non runner). Put a cover on it, and use a video to catch them. How much would you like to invest. Do you want to catch them, and put an end to it, or just protect your bike? It sucks that criminals get away with it.

Sorry its not a good answer, but I don't no any other way. I hope the best for ya.
Ideologies have consequences.

Another reason I love Western North Carolina. I had a satellite radio stolen out of my unlocked car once. That's about it. And then there's the roads...

I had a truck stolen from me. I had to track it down and the police didn't even arrest the vomit bag. They sent him walking down the street right infront of me. They said too much paper work and he would be on the streets in hours anyway.

dude....break your lease and go someplace safe. Your basically telling us your bike is a gonner.

I had to cut one of those Xena disc locks off my bike cause I lost the key. It took 3 minutes. There is no chain, lock, or cover going to work. You could get one of those steel shipping containers. They are steel, you would have to grind out a hole big enough to get the bike out. That would take at least 30 to 45 minutes, plus it would be loud as hell. The weekness is still the door lock but you could weld a steel cover over it making it hard to get too with a grinder.

Do you have any recent info on the thefts. The youtube video was from 2010. These kind of thefts are usually professionals and they tend to hit an area and move on when the it gets to hot.

Also, what 'corner' of Hurontario and Burnhamthorpe are you moving to. That video looked like it was from Mississauga valley (SE corner). Not only did I use to live in the area, I was also security many many many years ago. That is a rough area. The newer condo to the west and south west of Square One should have better security.

As an aside, my inlaws live around the corner so I am in the area occasionally, although rarely on the bike (hard to find room for the wife and 2 kids on it). Maybe I will get to see that nice looking bike of yours in person.

hey lipm,

we are moving to the newer absolute condos NE of square one. It would be great to meet up one day for a ride or even just a beer at west 50 (my treat). also, i do not have any newer info, just came across the theft problems while trying to find another parking spot to rent for crappy nissan truck.



Thanks for the opinions everyone. I am not really interested in catching anybody (that's for the cops...hahaha). But if I did run across someone trying to steal my bike one of us would not be leaving.

Had to move closer to GF work (many reasons involved including anxiety and S.A.D.) so I had no choice really but to move. If I would have known beforehand I basically would have had to make a choice between GF and possible bike theft...hmmm...hahaha

I have good insurance and will get a 19 mm chain. That will have to do. The lojack idea just cost too much.

I could defeat any locking system you put on it in about ten seconds.



Best bet, take it inside with you, or as has been mentioned park it somewhere else more secure.

Bocephus just might go to the Mary Carter paint and buy one of those Smith and Wesson magnum 44's.

Fit your bike with an automatic tracking device , then home in on the scumbags and pay em a visit with the fore-mentioned Smith and Wesson magnum 44's plus the ex-marines with automatic weapons and a few other recent bike theft victims.

Hmmm .... pest control

Saddly enough noone realy cares enough to put it to a stop. We will never pull together against it. Theft will continue to get worse, and we will cry like impotent b!tches.

Kill two birds with one stone. store it in an off-site storage unit and bicycle to and from it. Bike will be safe and you get some exercise.

Park it in the living room and buy a shotgun. Load it with 00 express shells.

Hook 220V to it.

You know the main problem with moving to Canada was that i had to leave my Raging Bull .454 behind with a friend.
http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Revolvers/Taurus_Raging_Bull.htm

I am not moving to the cool twisty building, but everyone seems to know about them!! I will be in the lone smaller one.

i am still searching for off site parking that will be more secure. its a good idea, just comes down to money and distance. bicycle is a good idea though, opens up more options. I should have thought of that!

also, yes - a cutting torch will go through any chain quickly. I am now going to be next to a concrete support pillar, so hopefully a 20 mm chain around that and my frame, wheels will make thieves look up the bike and figure its not valuable enough for the trouble. All of the post i have found have mentioned filings...

220 V, hahaha

original or extra crispy! man, that made me happy. if i could i would!

lojack is expensive and will run your battery down. If you do have a high end chain, can you run it around a pillar?