Theft Prevention 

About 200 bicycles a year are stolen from the MIT campus--an average of
more than one each day of the academic year.  The Institute is
beginning to install better bicycle racks as recommended in the MIT
Bicycle Study (the blue and red "coat hanger" racks).  Meanwhile, what
can you do to minimize the risk of theft? 

1. Never leave your bike totally unlocked, not even for a minute. 

2. Do not leave your bike outside overnight.  If you must leave your
bike on campus overnight, you can use the bicycle compound underneath
the back of Building 13.  To get in you need a card key available from
Campus Police for $5. 
  
3. Lock your bike to something secure.  Make sure a potential thief
can't lift your bike over a pole, for example, or break the object (e.g.
thin wood pole) 

4. Use a lock that takes some time and tools to break.  Note that thin
cable locks can be snipped in a few seconds with a wire cutter, and even
thick cables can be cut quite readily.  Although there are no locks that
can never be broken, you can make things difficult for the would-be
thief.  U-locks are good, but lately thieves have discovered that it is
possible to break them by prying off the protruding end.  You can thwart
this attempt by placing either a red cuff (available at bike shops) or a
plumber's tee ($1.50 at hardware shops) over the locking end.  If buying
a new lock, consider buying one of the latest models which do not have a
protruding end.  Another method of breaking a U-lock is by inserting a
lever in the middle of the lock.  Although this method has not yet been
observed in Cambridge, you can thwart it by buying a smaller U-lock or
things called "bad bones" which take up space in the middle of your
lock. 
 
4. Use two locks.  The potential thief will have to use two kinds of
tools.  A U-lock and a heavy cable lock make a good combination.  You
can use the cable to lock a wheel or seat. 

5. Lock your quick-release seat and wheels. A quick-release rear wheel
can be removed in less than 30 seconds and could cost you more than $100
to replace.  Many, many quick-release seats have been stolen.  Instead
of carrying your seat with you, you can lock it with a cable lock, old
bike chain, or seat locks which are now on the market.  Take easily
removable accessories of the bike and carry them with you.   You can
lock your helmet to the bike, however (there is no resale value for used
helmets with broken straps).