So we have a small back yard on our house at uni and we keep a few bikes in it. We think someone attempted to steal my mates bike the other night. They managed to smash the lock on the bike and open the gate to the alley, one of my other housemates found the gate open one morning. It seems the thief then realised that they couldn't lift the bike over the high, spiked gates blocking both ends of the alley and fled. They left the bike leaning in a different place to where it was locked. Unfortunately my housemate who found the open gate can't remember where the bike was in the yard when she went to shut it. This all happened while a few of us were away over Tuesday night. Had I been home I probably would have heard any goings on with the position of my room.

I can't think of anything else other than a hammer, or som other tool, that would have enough force to break the lock in such a way. What do you think?

Damn I lock my bike up all the time, never have people tried to mess with it, sometimes its out at like midnight when I go to retrieve it and its fine, after leaving work.

What did the original lock look like? You can try and contact the manufacture and see what they say otherwise I think a hammer or some sort of wire cutters / heavy duty cutters sliced that puppy or somehow they popped it out.

Usually people use bolt cutters. Now were using hammers?? wow

Bike locks are pretty easy to break - bolt cutters are the easiest way! Sometimes you can even use a small hacksaw and that'll take 5-20mins. Yes we had lots of experience during high school when we forgot our keys.

I used to work in a bicycle store and I could remove a D-lock or a cheaper cable lock in about 10 seconds with a hammer and a few blows in the right place.

It's the same with cheap padlocks. A smack in the right place will pop them open.

I won't link to relevant info, but *any* lock that uses the teeth/pin system can be opened in 5 seconds. Even the £50 padlocks that claim to be unbreakable. I was amazed when I read about it.

Are you talking about the 14 year old girl that can break those "unbreakable" locks? I think I read the same article, that was rather unnerving.

I didn't realise they were so weak! It looks like the casting in the lock is Aluminium too, which isn't good!

Locks are mainly a deterrent. You can't design a lock that is portable that isn't fairly easy to break with the right tools. Sure, make it some heavy duty metal and make it weigh 15 lbs, I'll just bring a small tank and a plasma torch and cut through it like paper. I'll be in and out quicker than the guy with the bolt cutters would be on a smaller lock.

It's possible to break into most locks. This site: http://ukbumpkeys.com/ // http://ukbumpkeys.com/bumpkeys.html sells keys which can open any locks of a certain type. .

Hammer usually works great if the locks are cheap but sometimes you need to use chisel.

You sound quite experienced. Do you steal a lot of bikes in Schaumburg?

Locks only slow down. Any lock can be opened but some take a minute instead of seconds to open. (I live in the Netherlands so i know )

There's no need to be judgemental, there are many ways that you could learn such information.

Carry a plasma torch and gas tank around with you all the time, do you?

Anyway, a bic pen can disable many bike locks in a few seconds.

If someone really wants to steal something, be it your bike or car or personal belongings, they can do it. As the old timers say, all a lock does is "keep an honest man honest."

A small jack... either hydro. or mech. does the job in seconds on the best of bike locks... and is light weight easy to carry, conseal, and easy to ditch if need be ( also very cheap to replace)


Locks only keep the honest honest...

Just to give you an idea, this video shows you how easy it really is to steal a bike in NYC.

Just watched that video Brandon, that looks easy! Why did no-one say anything to him?

When I was younger, my friends and I broke the law in full view of other people on countless occasions, and sometimes with police in view.

Most people go out of their way to stay out of other people's business. Even the people who do become concerned don't want to actually get involved personally. But even if the police are in the area, you can often break the law and not arouse suspicion if you carry yourself as though you're going about your regular routine.

heh. i used to tear padlocks apart as a child for fun

the easy ones are those generic dial combo locks. and just about any that have the like. layered system. where like 8 plates make up the case for the lock. and they are like riveted together... destroy the tip of the rivet or whatever its called. and the thing will fall apart! the dial combo ones. the weakest part is right behind the dial. rip that off. and its thin as hell there

its like. security systems. if someone can make it. someone can break it... (referring to like blue ray etc...)

Because NYers don't care/mind their own business, and like DXL said, they don't want to get involved.

I saw a lock snap yesterday when a bike fell over because it was windy.