How to Keep Your Bike or Board from Getting Stolen on Campus
Bikes and skateboards are great for swiftly moving around campus, racing to reconcile the time spent studying and hanging with friends, and just to enjoy the outdoors. Yet, in the rush, it’s easy to neglect the security of your possessions. Thieves are waiting, and you can easily fall victim to theft. However, don’t worry, Board Blazers has you covered! There are many ways to stay safe and avoid unwanted problems with a stolen bike or stolen skateboard.
Stolen Skateboard Prevention
Take it With You
Even though they are less expensive than bikes, unattended skateboards are equally appealing for thieves around campus. The only way of being sure your board is not stolen is to take it with you wherever you go. Depending on the size of the board, this may or may not be practical. An alternative is to store it inside your locker, of course, if the size of the locker allows it. Some campuses are installing special skateboard racks that allow you to safely lock your board, but these are few and far between.
Locks for skateboards are far from being as effective as they are for bikes. Almost all skateboards are very easy to disassemble in a short amount of time and with common tools, which means the safest option is to drive the lock through a hole made in the board’s material. If you do want to purchase a lock for your skateboard, Valet My Stick cable lock is recommended by several users. Remember, the thicker the cable, the better.
Use a Nearby Skate Rack If Possible
On campuses where the issue of stolen skateboards has evolved to the rank of being a serious problem, skate racks are introduced. According to the Los Angeles Times, if you’re school or area doesn’t have a skate rack, talk to your administration about investing in one. This elegant solution is certainly a big step forward from securing your skateboard to a post and praying to see it again in the next break or after class.
Personalize Your Board
Unique personalized boards and engraved tags can also make the work of thieves harder. A stolen board would be much riskier to use again in the campus or area from which it was stolen since it can be easily recognized.
Above all, the best way to care for your bike or board and prevent it from being stolen is to limit the time you are leaving it unsupervised. Also, everything becomes easier to steal at night and in remote places, so prepare a safe shelter for the night. Making sure your friends know how your ride looks like can be a very effective safety net as well. It can prove useful in spotting something that was stolen but not removed from the campus. If you have any bad experiences or tips about stolen bike or stolen skateboard prevention, please do share in the comments!
Stolen Bike Prevention
All Locks Can Be Broken
To start, it is important to know that any lock can be broken. Nevertheless, breaking good locks usually takes a longer time and requires use of considerably more advanced tools. The more you are open to spending on a lock, the fewer worries you will have about it being stolen. Therefore, definitely invest your time and money in finding and buying a good lock. If you’d like to save time, try the Kryptonite New York 3000. This lock fits a lot of our requirements and is recommended by the LondonCyclist.
There are two parameters that compose the resistance of a lock: the quality of the material and the size of the section. Weight is usually a good parameter to encompass both. A heavier and bulkier lock is, in most cases, a better lock. Sometimes manufacturers label their products in terms of minutes or hours a bike can be left unattended, but this is more of a marketing instrument. If you have ever watched a construction site, you probably know that there is a tool to cut anything, so forget about the word “unbreakable.”
If the places where you usually leave your bike are public and crowded, any attempt to break a good lock would be hard to disguise. Additionally, don’t just rely on the lock. The object you are linking or locking your bike or skateboard to should be at least equally resistant. Therefore, scan the area for large posts, fences, trees, and other unmovable objects.
Carry a Backpack
Remember that a bike has many parts which can be easily removed and stolen. Most modern bikes have a quick release mechanism for the front wheel, so consider driving the lock between the spokes. It’s best to take with you more advanced lighting systems and cyclocomputers, as well as your helmet. Having a small backpack can be very useful in these cases.
Don’t Get Too Fancy if it’s Not Necessary
If you’re just using a bike for the purpose of transportation, don’t stress over getting an expensive bike that grabs attention. Instead, consider buying a plain, cheap bike for your campus needs. Many claim that an expensive and unique bike is harder to steal, but that is just a myth. Don’t expect to see your thief cycling with your stolen bike undisturbed on alleys inside the campus. A stolen bike is usually sold on the black market with you having few chances of seeing it again. Once it’s stolen, it’s usually gone.
Secret tags and registration numbers engraved on the frame of your bike can prevent the thief from selling it. Although it is used in some countries, the system has yet to become a general solution, as it needs the development of a national registry and cooperation with authorities.
Above all, the best way to care for your bike or board and prevent it from being stolen is to limit the time you are leaving it unsupervised. Also, everything becomes easier to steal at night and in remote places, so prepare a safe shelter for the night. Making sure your friends know how your ride looks like can be a very effective safety net as well. It can prove useful in spotting something that was stolen but not removed from the campus. If you have any bad experiences or tips about stolen bike or stolen skateboard prevention, please do share in the comments!
About The Author:
Yogin Patel is a serial entrepreneur who currently attends Arizona State University. At the age of 16, Yogin became an independent marketing consultant, along with an avid blogger and online marketer. In the past year, Yogin has worked with several small businesses, including local restaurants, hotels, and personal brands. He builds clean websites, ranks businesses on the first page of Google, and manages social media for brands. In his free time, Yogin likes to read thought-provoking books and play basketball with friends. To learn more about Yogin, or to get in touch with him, go to YoginPatel.com, or add him on his LinkedIn. Yogin blogs at Doolid.com.