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The bicycle thief: a criminal profile Jean Couture of Le Monde à bicyclette has known people with state-of-the-art bikes too fearful of theft to even ride them. While statistics show that nearly every other crime is in decline across North America, bike theft has gone up. "Bike theft is one of the most atrocious crimes there is. When your car is stolen, within minutes you start thinking about insurance; you maybe wonder what was in the glove compartment. But when a bike is stolen, forget it." >> There are three obvious tricks to prevent bike theft, says Couture. First of all, write down your bike's serial number, and inscribe it on all removable parts. Second, scratch out brand names. Painting it in a characteristic way helps too: "If a frame looks special a burglar will think twice about stealing it." >> And last, a good lock is crucial. Mechanics have told him no bike lock on the planet can't be picked, but two locks--a U-lock, plus a chain and padlock--discourage most burglars. And if you lock it in a public place, and if possible near a nicer bike, that helps too. >> Couture says after years of theft, bike-owners have become more discreet about riding fancy bikes, and have even learned to be content with drab ones. "Someone who cares about bike riding won't care what their bike looks like. Fifteen years ago, bike riding was all about status. You needed your titanium frame and Shimano brake pads. Now commercialization is so in-your-face it's stopped having any meaning. And that's good." --Jacquie Charlton
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