Bike Pittsburgh

Repost: Thieves targeting bike racks at PPA Garage under Mellon

Message: A few months ago, the saddle & seatpost were stolen from my
bicycle which was locked up in the PPA Garage under Mellon Square
downtown. I did not have a quick-release, the thief loosened the bolt holding the seatpost to the frame. Another bicycle next to mine had
the horns & rubber grips stolen from the handlebars. A few weeks
later, a colleague of mine had the quick-release bolt stolen from his
bicycle, also locked in the same place. He had cabled his seat to the
frame, but the thief took the bolt. It seems that some person is
targetting that garage, and is not above petty theft, taking nearly
worthless parts such as grips and bolts.

I don't know what ability you have to pursuade PPA to increase
security around the bike racks, but a warning to other cyclists would
be great.

RE: Repost: Thieves targeting bike racks at PPA Garage under Mellon

I had a crappy bike parked there a couple of weeks ago, intending to use it to run a few short errands around town during my lunch hour. The front wheel was NOT quick release, but by the time I left the office at the end of the day, the front wheel had been unbolted and stolen. It was an old, extremely cheap bike - I can replace it for less than the cost of a new wheel - but it reminded me NOT to leave my good bike there at any time for any reason. The loss of the front tire was largely my fault - since it was a beater bike and did not have quick release front hubs, I just u-locked it to the rack, securing the back tire and frame. I knew better - I just didn't realize how far some thieves will go to steal ANYTHING, or how annoying it is to have someone steal an integral part of a bike. I almost wich they had stolen the whole thing.

RE: Repost: Thieves targeting bike racks at PPA Garage under Mellon

I sent a link to this thread to someone I know at the PPA. Stay tuned.

I wonder how much of this activity would stop if there were security cameras trained on the bike racks and in plain view.