Bike Thefts from Downtown DC Garages

We have an access controlled bike cage in our garage but it’s visible from the street so I also lock up.

A few months ago, a bike thief scammed his way into the cage (he “forgot his key” or piggybacked) and made off with a big wig’s $$$ bike. They installed security cameras right after and I started using two cabled u-locks.

Another strategy you can employ if there is no cage or particularly secure area is to take your bike to the very bottom level and lock it up there. I suspect thieves are looking for bikes wherever the first bike rack they can see is. It’s rare for bikes to be parked down 2-3 levels, so I doubt they would ever venture down there. (This obviously assumes that the people who park down there are not themselves bike thieves.)

I was doing the opposite at a public garage here in Rosslyn for about a year. There’s a rack visible through the walls from the street that typically had 2-3 bikes parked at it. I would ride my bike up to a higher level–out of view from the street–and lock up there. Thieves would have had to find their way up a stairwell or walk up the ramps (which would likely raise some suspicion from the attendants) to find my bike.

@KLizotte 141665 wrote:

I may be changing jobs and working at 490 L’Enfant Plaza. Their website says they have a bike cage. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I presume it is in the garage? How secure is it?

Many thanks.

I’ve been parking my bike in that neighborhood for 3 years now in various garages and outdoor locations, although not that exact garage. I’ve had 0 issues with theft and I haven’t heard of any from my colleagues, even when my bike has been parked outside by the street. Just keep it locked up properly and you should be ok.

There’s so many bikes parked on racks by the street in SW DC that struggling with a bike cage is likely not worth it to a thief when there’s expensive bikes in much more accessible locations.

@Tim Kelley 141669 wrote:

This guys seems to know an awful lot about how bike thieving works. We got our eyes on you, Steve O.

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I leave a U-lock & cable in my building’s garage. Despite a guard presence and 24hr cameras pointed directly at the bike racks somebody pilfered through every bag on the bikes parked there one day last summer. Thankfully they left the seat bag so I was only out a couple spare tubes and a cheap multi-tool. They also left my tire levers…guessing they had no idea what they were or that the seat bag was the most expensive item after the bike itself.

For quick or emergency stops on the way to/from I carry an Abus folding lock or a cable lock.

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@eminva 141745 wrote:

For folks reading this who work in buildings with this level of security, your bike is probably safe. If you park in a garage with the usual affable but ineffectual Colonial attendants, I continue to maintain you need to take more drastic steps.

Liz

We’ve had the same regular attendants in my garage for a couple of years now. Once or twice a year I ride up to them with my bike in hand, tip them $10 or $20, and thank them for having taken such good care of my bike. Maybe I’ll bring them something my wife baked. Stuff like that.

It might not help at all, maybe it helps a little, maybe a lot. But who knows. They likely know me and my bike better than the next guy. Every little bit counts.

@Tania 141985 wrote:

[COLOR=rgb(51, 51, 51)]They also used a pretty heavy duty tool because all the u-locks on the ground had a smooth cut.[/COLOR]

pic looks like they used an angle grinder. Can be had for under $150 and takes care of most U-locks in under a minute.

Here’s how easy it was for me, and I’m not a professional. (two minutes)
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?7913-Key-broke-in-my-u-lock-How-to-recover&p=102150#post102150