4 ms·

These days not having an e-bike is probably one of the easiest deterrents. Next step seems to be to avoid design bikes like Van Moof. And finally, have your bik

These days not having an e-bike is probably one of the easiest deterrents. Next step seems to be to avoid design bikes like Van Moof. And finally, have your bike look used. Then again, my bike is probably not the first one they'll consider, given that it has a 70cm frame making it all but impossible to ride for anyone under 195cm (being 200cm myself). If you steal a bicycle you have to be able to sell it, and given that a lot of professionally stolen bicycles are exported to countries with lower GDP's and that there aren't that many (if any) countries where tall people are as relatively common as in the Netherlands that match that criterium, I am relatively safe I suppose (as long as I lock it to a barrier or bicycle stand).

mrsuprawsm 5y ago
I do wonder how often Van Moof bikes get stolen, despite their tracking features. Fear of theft is the one thing that puts me off buying one.
- owenwil 5y ago
  I had two stolen over the years I owned one in Amsterdam. The first one was recovered in about a week. The second was never found, but they replace it when they don’t find it as a part of that guarantee–which is why it’s actually a really great deal.
  - mrsuprawsm 5y ago
    It seems like they now only offer this for 3 years, which isn't great, since hopefully you'd own the bike for a lot longer than 3 years. https://support.vanmoof.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001778625--what-s-included-in-peace-of-mind-theft- https://support.vanmoof.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44...
owenwil 5y ago
It’s interesting because in my 5 years in the Netherlands, the general opinion was the opposite of this: bike theft is such a common occurrence because everyone rides the same, probably stolen and resold, black bike that you should ride a new, design bike that stands out, like a VanMoof–because no thief would be dumb enough to go for it since it would be obvious where you got it (and more importantly, almost certainly registered/traceable vs an old clunker).
- WelcomeShorty 5y ago
  Funny anecdote, but the initial reason for us to all drive shit looking bikes was the reason that these did not get stolen so often :) Not so sure your design / desirable bike will last long thou. See here (1) where an absolute unique Audi RS6 DTM was stolen WHILE being used in a film shoot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53U_HlIs_Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53U_HlIs_Q (sorry, Dutch only)
pjmlp 5y ago
> And finally, have your bike look used. That doesn't help, we used to joke with an aquaitance of mine that it was a miracle that his bike still worked, and he used to reply at least it wouldn't attract the attention of thieves, until the day he got stolen.
- emaginniss 5y ago
  Were you ever able to find your acquaintance?
  - pjmlp 5y ago
    The bike, that is what I get by not proofreading.
henryaj 5y ago
On the contrary, VanMoof promise to get your stolen bike back within two weeks or they replace it. Had mine stolen in London; they located it the same day and got it back to me the following week. Combined with an AirTag hidden discreetly in the frame and I'm unafraid of locking it up basically anywhere.
- jareklupinski 5y ago
  for a fee https://www.vanmoof.com/en-US/peace-of-mind https://www.vanmoof.com/en-US/peace-of-mind but i could see a world where I own two of these and not even bother locking them anywhere, just constantly get one 'stolen' while i ride the other, and cycle (ha) between the two?
  - trulyme 5y ago
    > We can only recover or replace a stolen bike if the Theft Defense system was armed and the Kick Lock was properly engaged when your bike was stolen. They also recover the bike only up to three times in 3-year timespan. Still, sounds like a great service!
    - mbg721 5y ago
      That sounds like two more times than anybody else would recover it.
      - trulyme 5y ago
        True, I find the service more than fair.
- spicybright 5y ago
  Wow, how does a company manage that? GPS? How do they have a legal right to determine who actually owns it?
mulcyber 5y ago
The only real protection against theft is not having your bike among the most valuable and/or least secure ones on the rack. Most protection can be circonvented if the thief is savy and equipped.

mrsuprawsm 5y ago

I do wonder how often Van Moof bikes get stolen, despite their tracking features. Fear of theft is the one thing that puts me off buying one.

owenwil 5y ago
I had two stolen over the years I owned one in Amsterdam. The first one was recovered in about a week. The second was never found, but they replace it when they don’t find it as a part of that guarantee–which is why it’s actually a really great deal.
- mrsuprawsm 5y ago
  It seems like they now only offer this for 3 years, which isn't great, since hopefully you'd own the bike for a lot longer than 3 years. https://support.vanmoof.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001778625--what-s-included-in-peace-of-mind-theft- https://support.vanmoof.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44...

owenwil 5y ago

It’s interesting because in my 5 years in the Netherlands, the general opinion was the opposite of this: bike theft is such a common occurrence because everyone rides the same, probably stolen and resold, black bike that you should ride a new, design bike that stands out, like a VanMoof–because no thief would be dumb enough to go for it since it would be obvious where you got it (and more importantly, almost certainly registered/traceable vs an old clunker).

WelcomeShorty 5y ago
Funny anecdote, but the initial reason for us to all drive shit looking bikes was the reason that these did not get stolen so often :) Not so sure your design / desirable bike will last long thou. See here (1) where an absolute unique Audi RS6 DTM was stolen WHILE being used in a film shoot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53U_HlIs_Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53U_HlIs_Q (sorry, Dutch only)

pjmlp 5y ago

> And finally, have your bike look used. That doesn't help, we used to joke with an aquaitance of mine that it was a miracle that his bike still worked, and he used to reply at least it wouldn't attract the attention of thieves, until the day he got stolen.

emaginniss 5y ago
Were you ever able to find your acquaintance?
- pjmlp 5y ago
  The bike, that is what I get by not proofreading.

henryaj 5y ago

On the contrary, VanMoof promise to get your stolen bike back within two weeks or they replace it. Had mine stolen in London; they located it the same day and got it back to me the following week. Combined with an AirTag hidden discreetly in the frame and I'm unafraid of locking it up basically anywhere.

jareklupinski 5y ago
for a fee https://www.vanmoof.com/en-US/peace-of-mind https://www.vanmoof.com/en-US/peace-of-mind but i could see a world where I own two of these and not even bother locking them anywhere, just constantly get one 'stolen' while i ride the other, and cycle (ha) between the two?
- trulyme 5y ago
  > We can only recover or replace a stolen bike if the Theft Defense system was armed and the Kick Lock was properly engaged when your bike was stolen. They also recover the bike only up to three times in 3-year timespan. Still, sounds like a great service!
  - mbg721 5y ago
    That sounds like two more times than anybody else would recover it.
    - trulyme 5y ago
      True, I find the service more than fair.
spicybright 5y ago
Wow, how does a company manage that? GPS? How do they have a legal right to determine who actually owns it?

mulcyber 5y ago

The only real protection against theft is not having your bike among the most valuable and/or least secure ones on the rack. Most protection can be circonvented if the thief is savy and equipped.