Comments on: The Story of Sholom’s Stolen Bike http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jonathan http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-129511 Jonathan Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:18:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-129511 Capn'n Transit & Bicycles Only, after reading your comments I checked with my insurer about my deductible. The representative said that for homeowner's policies, the typical deductible is $1,000, but for renter's insurance, it's $250 but could be lower. My policy has a $100 deductible and costs $70 annually. Capn’n Transit & Bicycles Only, after reading your comments I checked with my insurer about my deductible. The representative said that for homeowner’s policies, the typical deductible is $1,000, but for renter’s insurance, it’s $250 but could be lower. My policy has a $100 deductible and costs $70 annually.

]]> By: Richard Lee http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-129241 Richard Lee Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:13:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-129241 Great news on the recovery! Not too sure what lock type was used (& failed). But suspect it may have been a cable or cheap u-lock. Would like to suggest use of case-hardened security chain and monobloc lock in the future; about 35 bucks off the net. Most perps are looking for an easy mark and will gladly pass on having to chop thru case-hardened chain. (Also easy to carry when wrapped around the seat post.) Great news on the recovery! Not too sure what lock type was used (& failed). But suspect it may have been a cable or cheap u-lock. Would like to suggest use of case-hardened security chain and monobloc lock in the future; about 35 bucks off the net. Most perps are looking for an easy mark and will gladly pass on having to chop thru case-hardened chain. (Also easy to carry when wrapped around the seat post.)

]]> By: Stacy http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-129101 Stacy Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:17:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-129101 Not that one precludes the other but, having identifying photos of your bike with you, on your laptop/iPod/phone, might be better than actually registering the bike with police. I registered my bike several years ago with the 20th Pct. Not because I live in the 20th but because they were the precinct offering this service at a pre-Bike Month event. Does anyone know if the police actually do anything with this information other than etch a number on the frame and issue a certificate? Not that one precludes the other but, having identifying photos of your bike with you, on your laptop/iPod/phone, might be better than actually registering the bike with police.

I registered my bike several years ago with the 20th Pct. Not because I live in the 20th but because they were the precinct offering this service at a pre-Bike Month event. Does anyone know if the police actually do anything with this information other than etch a number on the frame and issue a certificate?

]]> By: BicyclesOnly http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-129061 BicyclesOnly Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:53:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-129061 The problem with most or all homeowner's policies is that they have deductibles (often $500 or more) that may equal or exceed the value of the bike. But when valuing the loss in deciding whether to. make the claim, remember to aggregate the value of all accessories (including security equipment and upgraded parts) lost in the theft. The adjuster may want to see receipts for all of this so save them; but if you failed to save them, your local bike shop may be able to generate replacements. And if you have lost two or more bikes locked up together stolen at the same time, you may be able to aggregate the mutiple thefts as a "single occurence"that rises above the deductible. While a claim only modestly in excess of the deductible may not be worth the trouble, a policyholder has every right to make a claim of a few hundred dollars against a homeowners policy with annual premiums of the same amount, and in my experience with two leading insurers in the homeowner's market (including the biggest, Travelers), I have never had a premium increase follow on the heels of a bike theft claim. The problem with most or all homeowner’s policies is that they have deductibles (often $500 or more) that may equal or exceed the value of the bike. But when valuing the loss in deciding whether to. make the claim, remember to aggregate the value of all accessories (including security equipment and upgraded parts) lost in the theft. The adjuster may want to see receipts for all of this so save them; but if you failed to save them, your local bike shop may be able to generate replacements. And if you have lost two or more bikes locked up together stolen at the same time, you may be able to aggregate the mutiple thefts as a “single occurence”that rises above the deductible. While a claim only modestly in excess of the deductible may not be worth the trouble, a policyholder has every right to make a claim of a few hundred dollars against a homeowners policy with annual premiums of the same amount, and in my experience with two leading insurers in the homeowner’s market (including the biggest, Travelers), I have never had a premium increase follow on the heels of a bike theft claim.

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-129001 Cap'n Transit Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:44:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-129001 Kaja, do you have apartment insurance? Kaja, do you have apartment insurance?

]]> By: Kaja http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-128971 Kaja Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:22:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-128971 Financial district employee checkin in', petrified about locking my bike up outdoors. I would be absolutely devastated if my horse were stolen; I use two orange Kryptonites, one for the rear-and-frame and one for the front-and-frame. I park it in a fairly public place with cops and security cameras all around, but I do not trust that a man with a drill will be stopped by police, or by any private security. Didn't have these problems before the no-bikes-in-buildings bill led Jeffries Morris to change their bikefriendly policy out of spite and retribution. I would gladly pay a parking garage a per diem to keep my stuff under lock and key, but none of them offer the service. Financial district employee checkin in’, petrified about locking my bike up outdoors. I would be absolutely devastated if my horse were stolen; I use two orange Kryptonites, one for the rear-and-frame and one for the front-and-frame.

I park it in a fairly public place with cops and security cameras all around, but I do not trust that a man with a drill will be stopped by police, or by any private security.

Didn’t have these problems before the no-bikes-in-buildings bill led Jeffries Morris to change their bikefriendly policy out of spite and retribution.

I would gladly pay a parking garage a per diem to keep my stuff under lock and key, but none of them offer the service.

]]> By: Streetsman http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-128911 Streetsman Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:27:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-128911 Yeah I disagree about locking up in busy places as a rule. i think the corner of Broadway and Houston is one of the highest theft locations areas in the city. i think a lot of thieves can use the stream of people to disguise what they are doing. I think the best place to lock is right in front of a quiet place that has eyes watching it like a sidewalk or windowfront cafe, in a visible place in front of a vigilant shop owner, or maybe a rack in front of a building with a security camera. Yeah I disagree about locking up in busy places as a rule. i think the corner of Broadway and Houston is one of the highest theft locations areas in the city. i think a lot of thieves can use the stream of people to disguise what they are doing. I think the best place to lock is right in front of a quiet place that has eyes watching it like a sidewalk or windowfront cafe, in a visible place in front of a vigilant shop owner, or maybe a rack in front of a building with a security camera.

]]> By: Noah http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/02/the-story-of-sholoms-stolen-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-128901 Noah Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:51:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=60141#comment-128901 It is certainly great that you recovered your bike and your story is great, but disagree with your parking in busy areas. In busy crowded areas a thief is more likely to go unnoticed. On quiet streets a thief stands out that much more. See Hal's great Bike locking videos where he addresses this very point. Anyone who has every been on a quiet residential block sees people sitting on stoops and watching everything. Also there are some great web resources such as twitter and communities all about finding lost bikes. It is certainly great that you recovered your bike and your story is great, but disagree with your parking in busy areas. In busy crowded areas a thief is more likely to go unnoticed. On quiet streets a thief stands out that much more. See Hal’s great Bike locking videos where he addresses this very point. Anyone who has every been on a quiet residential block sees people sitting on stoops and watching everything.

Also there are some great web resources such as twitter and communities all about finding lost bikes.

]]>