Bike Theft Again!

[imported_post]

For the third time in 2 years I woke up this morning, donned my cycling gear and walked down to the cycling racks at the back of the West Block Car Park only to find my bike missing and my locks cut to pieces on the floor.

The bike was a beige / silver Trek 7.5 (not inexpensive) with both the 2 blue tags RMG sent attached to the handlebars and was locked with a specialist bike lock plus a thick motorbike steel chain locked with 2 padlocks which look to have been cut with what looks like a professional cutter.

So beware and it now looks as if I’ll have to carry my next bike up and down the stairwells to my flat.

As it was about 2 weeks since I last took my bike out I am not sure if there is any CCTV to check.

So beware when leaving a bike in the carpark!

[imported_post]

Paul,
Really sorry to hear of your theft.  Another resident had noticed that there appeared to have been some locks cut last week.

Unfortunately due the the west block garden gates being repaired there was a period of some days when access to the garden was straight forward.  Somebody must have not closed one of the pedestrian doors to allow access to the car-park.

I feel confident that now the gates are back up and locked that further break ins are less likely.  Its probably not going to restore your confidence I know, but circumstance was a factor in the incident.

Regards
Simon

[imported_post]

Simon

You are correct that your reply hasn’t really restored my confidence in the security of the car parks. Having had 3 bikes stolen in two years and at a cost of near £1500 lost I’m sure you will be able to understand my reticence. As I am sure there were ‘circumstances’ on those occasions too.

If anything  I am actually more annoyed now as you state that the reduction of security was due to the work being undertaken on behalf of the management company, without notifying the residents and therefore not giving us the option to remove the bikes until the work was complete. I will certainly be taking that up with them when there is somebody in their office to answer the phone.

I have contacted the Police and they have asked who do they need to contact to get hold of the CCTV footage for the period?

Paul

[imported_post]

Paul, you have my sympathies. If yours were the red and gray locks in the south west corner I suspect they were cut on the  19th or 20th. If the thief or thieves gained access through the open gate and then pedestrian doors I don't think the CCTV will help, unfortunately.

I know it is of no comfort to you, but it may be of help to others, I think the steel U-shaped bike locks are the most difficult to cut and the wire cable ones the easiest. I have yet to see a broken or discarded U-lock.

Calum.

[imported_post]

Cheers Calum

Thanks for the date information which would tie in with the last date I used the bike, the 17th.

My first bike that was stolen had a Kryptonite D-lock and they managed to get through that but I guess when somebody is really determined they can get through anything as long as they are given enough time and they have the right equipment.

Calum the police asked could I forward the contact details of the person who noticed the broken locks. If you don't mind me doing this can you please email me your contact details paulchorley@rfu.com but it is OK if you would rather not.

Thanks

Paul

[imported_post]

The new gate has been hung such a long way off the ground that IMO it would not be too difficult for anyone but the largest of people to crawl in through the gap. I hope I am proved wrong.

Andrew

[imported_post]

Does anybody have a contact at RMG.

Having phoned to inform them on Monday of the theft I was told that the property manager would phone me later the same day, so at 4.55 when I hadn’t received a call I phoned again to be told their SLA is 48 hours even though I told them the police wanted some information immediately.

So Tuesday came and went and no call so I phoned again on Wednesday morning to be told the property manager knows to call me and will

It is now Friday and still no call and the police have just informed me they are closing the case as I haven’t been able to provide them with the CCTV information and the contact details of the company doing the work on the gate during the time the bike was stolen.

Why do we pay to have the property managed by such a shambles of a company?

They are a joke!

Calum – Thanks again for the info you sent through.

[imported_post]

Paul

The property manager is away on holiday at the moment but I have tried to chase this up for you, I will let you know what I hear back.  In this instance the CCTV will not show anything because of the point of entry / exit.   The construction company who did the back gates is M J Rooney construction.  Whoever left the pedestrian door ajar has a responsibility to share in this.

regards
Si.

[Author]

Posts