LIL’ BUDDY’S BLOG: Human or Dog Losing Your Wheels – Even if Only TWO Wheels – Can Be Heartwrenching!
LIL’ BUDDY’S BLOG: Human or Dog Losing Your Wheels – Even if Only TWO Wheels – Can Be Heartwrenching!
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
My Human Dad lost his Stingray Handlebar Model with a Banana Style Seat many years ago – back in 1965. He says they found it a week later in pieces in some garbage cans behind Richmond Street near Devon Avenue in the West Rogers Park Neighborhood of Chicago where he grew up as a pup. "That summer" Dean says "was never quite the same!"
Today I protect my own bike – a cool Cubbie-Blue alloy-frame mountain bike with nubby little tires to accommodate my short little legs – by using a high-security U-Lock.
Here in the City of Chicago police don’t specifically track bike thefts citywide. However according to bike-lock manufacturer Kryptonite Chicago ranks second behind only New York City for bicycle thefts in the U.S. FBI statistics estimate over 230000 bikes get stolen across the country each year but many thefts go unreported.
Most stolen bikes these days are rarely cut up for parts as stolen cars often are. Many end up in pawn shops flea markets sold via Chicago Craigslist.com or for nicer models auctioned on EBay.
The best security for your bike? A solid heavy-duty bar lock like the U-Lock. It is uncuttable! Most cable chains even the heavy "aircraft" variety can be easily snipped with the right sized bolt cutters.
Fasten your bike tightly to a bike rack or post and remove the front wheel or seat – to make the bike not immediately ridable. Some also suggest cosmetic stickers to make your bike appear rusty or dented – although this will not fool sophisticated thieves. Highly visible bike racks might deter the amateurs – but always keep an eye on your bike whenever you can while you are parked.
Register your bike with your local city or municipality – and note it’s serial number! (Many experts suggest you engrave the serial number in a secret place so you can easily identify your bike should you spot it on the street – most thieves grind off easily-found serial numbers). Should your bike be stolen register it on the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry and on Craigslist – so potential purchasers could easily research whether they are buying a hot bike.
Summer is coming you dogs and you know we all like to ride sidecar style on our humans’ bicycles or on little tiny bikes of our own. Be cautious when locking it – and you’ll enjoy it all summer.
And be safe! I don’t want to see your picture in the Chicago Tribune your four paws every which way because you’ve taken a nasty spill!
See Susan Oh’s story in last Saturday’s Chicago Tribune for more info.
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
