"Protect That Bike"

    One recent evening in Chicago, a man who frequently bikes to and from work approached the signpost where he had locked his bike for over a year. The familiar newspaper boxes were there -- but not his bike.

    "It baffled me: how'd they take it?" said the man, Gary Hochgraf. "They didn't break the lock, because there weren't any pieces of metal around."

    On that deeply frustrating day, Hochgraf joined some 500,000 Americans who report their bikes stolen each year. Like Hochgraf, many victims left their bikes unattended -- though not necessarily unlocked.

    If you must park and lock your bike, leaving it unattended, knowing a few tricks -- such as ones used by many veteran thieves -- will make your vehicle less of a target.

    "Take a look at the 'no parking' sign posts," said Jack Rimkus, a plainclothes Chicago cop. "You'll notice that 85 percent have their bolts removed at the base." Thieves -- sometimes posing as bike messengers -- scout for bikes locked to these posts, he said.

    "All the thieves do is pull the pole up, and the lock slides right off. If you're going to lock your bike to something, make sure it's permanent."

    And make sure you've locked it, warned Keith Mistrik, a Chicago bike store owner. Mistrik said that cyclists will, for example, "run into McDonald's for a soda without locking up. I hear 20 other theft stories for every one involving a locked bike."

    According to Mistrik, steel alloy U-shaped locks provide "by far the best security out there today." But, he warned, stay away from cheap foreign copies: "The American lock is probably ten times as durable."

    For complete protection a U lock should lock the frame and both wheels, requiring the cyclist to remove the front tire, Mistrik said. Many people prefer to "cross-lock," using the U lock and another cable or chain with its own lock, he added. Better yet, take your front tire with you, said Officer Rimkus. "Then the bike is useless to the thief."

    Despite the solid reputation of the U lock, a thief can prop one against a solid surface and crack it open with a heavy hammer.

    "We had one of our thieves demonstrate it for us, and he did it with two whacks," Rimkus said. However, bikes parked in busy areas are less vulnerable: “They like to do that a little more privately."

    Bike owners who prefer chains should get one of hardened metal, at lease three-eighths inch thick.

    Cables are a lightweight alternative to chains. A thief needs a 3-foot cutter to slice a three-eighths inch cable. Obviously, most thieves don't carry such a cutter around, so they prefer to target small, inexpensive padlocks.

    "Generally, the lock should be the size of the cable or thicker," Mistrik advised.

    Regardless of locking method, if the thief wants the bike and knows what he or she is doing, the heist will be successful. But don't lose hope. Nationwide, police recover thousands of bikes each year.

    Your best hope of getting your bike back is to have it registered. Owners who have registered their bikes, like Gary Hochgaf, get a phone call from police after it is found.

    Where police can't identify owners of bicycles, many departments sell the bikes at unclaimed property auctions. These auctions can attract hundreds of buyers -- some of whom spot their stolen bikes. However, Officer Rimkus said, unless the person shows proof of ownership, like a serial number, police cannot simply return the bike.

    Rimkus said that few people register their bikes, even though registration is easy.

    "If police recover the bike,” said Rimkus, "then I've got your name, I've got your serial number, I've got your bike type. And you can have your bike back tomorrow."

    Theft Prevention Tips

• Park your bike in open, populous areas.
• Use a hardened steel U lock, thick padlock, chain or cable. Avoid combination locks.
• Lock through your bike's frame and both wheels. Take your front wheel if you can.
• Lock to an immovable object and make sure a thief can’t lift your bike over the top.
• Wrap your chain tightly and position your lock away from any solid surface like a sidewalk or lamppost.
• Take all easily-removed accessories like lights, computers and panniers with you. · Register your bike's serial number with the police department -- and
• hang on to it.

      Find more tips on beating thieves in Mr. Bike's book _Urban Bikers' Tricks & Tips, available at book stores and bike shops, by calling 800/888-4741 or by e-mailing wordspace@compuserve.com. Also check out his Web site at askmrbike.com.