Bike theft in Marina Dalmacija, Zadar

[athene]

We've just had one of our expensive Tern folding bikes stolen overnight in Marina Dalmacija near Zadar. The thief used heavy duty bolt cutters. It could be local villains, of course, but then sailing boats also carry bolt cutters and I'm not naive enough to think that every yachtsman is as honest as Cruisers Forum members.

So I'm attaching a photo in case any CF members cruising the Adriatic see something similar (with a new saddle and seat post as the thief didn't get those). The bikes are unique in that they are a special US import, unavailable anywhere in the Med, so if you spot it it's almost definitely ours (unless, of course, you see it on a US-flagged yacht!).

Any sightings please send me a PM and I'll notify the Zadar police.

GORDON KNIGHT

[CaptJamesCook]

Sorry about the theft..

Some after thought stuff.
Saw a product at Home depot called Tick. (about $10.00-$20.00 usd) It is a tracking device the about the size of a can of snuff. You can attach it to tools or bikes (bottom of seat/under rack/below rear reflector). With a phone app track where it is. Don't know it it works world wide or not.. But worth a look see.
Not something that you would do this but, I have had a few really nice bikes stolen. Take and spray paint them as ugly as you can. I always removed the back wheel and took it with me. Dumb but it helps. Very few people want a bike without the back wheel(expensive to replace.

[mikedefieslife]

Sorry to hear about that.

Just had a bike stolen in Ibiza town. It was out for 2 hours max, and was taken. Only had a crappy lock mind as is was a complete death trap, and came free with the boat.

All Tern models bar certain electrical hybrids, as available to order in Europe, but I would not expect to see any modern Terns in Southern Croatia at all.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by CaptJamesCook

Sorry about the theft..

Some after thought stuff.
Saw a product at Home depot called Tick. (about $10.00-$20.00 usd) It is a tracking device the about the size of a can of snuff. You can attach it to tools or bikes (bottom of seat/under rack/below rear reflector). With a phone app track where it is. Don't know it it works world wide or not.. But worth a look see.
Not something that you would do this but, I have had a few really nice bikes stolen. Take and spray paint them as ugly as you can. I always removed the back wheel and took it with me. Dumb but it helps. Very few people want a bike without the back wheel(expensive to replace.

The Tick looks like it is a Bluetooth based tracker. This means it only supports close by tracking, probably less than 100m.

[Jdege]

Originally Posted by Paul L

The Tick looks like it is a Bluetooth based tracker. This means it only supports close by tracking, probably less than 100m.

Yes, but it only has to be within range of some phone with the app installed, it doesn't have to be yours. The location is uploaded to the internet, where your app can retrieve it.

How likely someone with the app is to wander within range, I can't say. I'd not expect it to be frequent in Croatia.

There are other apps that do the same thing. They'd all be more effective if they shared data, but that doesn't seem to have occurred to them.

https://www.thetrackr.com

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Jdege

Yes, but it only has to be within range of some phone with the app installed, it doesn't have to be yours. The location is uploaded to the internet, where your app can retrieve it.

How likely someone with the app is to wander within range, I can't say. I'd not expect it to be frequent in Croatia.

There are other apps that do the same thing. They'd all be more effective if they shared data, but that doesn't seem to have occurred to them.

https://www.thetrackr.com

Not likely. A Bluetooth connection cannot be made to an arbitrary phone. In this case it needs to be made to a phone running the Tracker app.

. When another TrackR user is within Bluetooth range of your lost item, you will receive a location update.

[Tx J]

Originally Posted by Paul L

The Tick looks like it is a Bluetooth based tracker. This means it only supports close by tracking, probably less than 100m.

Agree that a Bluetooth only tracking device is of little use here.

But there are hundreds of GPS-GSMmobile trackers, some/most quite inexpensive.
They communicate with (extra cost) a low cost basic GSM SIM mobile service (monthly or fixed 'bucket' size, no IP data plan needed), $10+/mo. As long as that SIM plan has SMS (texting) it will work, and the SIM can be swapped out for another/local one when your location changes.
Most are quite small and 'hideable'.

Go to http://www.newegg.com and use their search box up top, put in " gps tracker ", then winnow around and find the ones with GPS, GSM SIM, and an Android/Apple/PC app as desired; waterproof would be good too.
Should find a large number suitable for property protection (hundreds).

They cost anywhere from (USD) $12 to $40, and up, not really much.

The only thing limiting them is the need for power, most have a small Li battery that will need recharging periodically. Didn't look, but some probably come with a small solar panel, so basically unlimited.

The apps range in utility, some allow GPS fencing, relay real-time tracking data (period selectable), mapping, etc.
Bikes, dogs, cats, kids, dinghies, windgens, solar panels, whatever, track 'em all .

If y'all get some, carefully install them, test them out, and hopefully they're good; and cheap enough if not, to not fret about.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Tx J

Agree that a Bluetooth only tracking device is of little use here.

But there are hundreds of GPS-GSMmobile trackers, some/most quite inexpensive.
They communicate with (extra cost) a low cost basic GSM SIM mobile service (monthly or fixed 'bucket' size, no IP data plan needed), $10+/mo. As long as that SIM plan has SMS (texting) it will work, and the SIM can be swapped out for another/local one when your location changes.
Most are quite small and 'hideable'.

Go to http://www.newegg.com and use their search box up top, put in " gps tracker ", then winnow around and find the ones with GPS, GSM SIM, and an Android/Apple/PC app as desired; waterproof would be good too.
Should find a large number suitable for property protection (hundreds).

They cost anywhere from (USD) $12 to $40, and up, not really much.

The only thing limiting them is the need for power, most have a small Li battery that will need recharging periodically. Didn't look, but some probably come with a small solar panel, so basically unlimited.

The apps range in utility, some allow GPS fencing, relay real-time tracking data (period selectable), mapping, etc.
Bikes, dogs, cats, kids, dinghies, windgens, solar panels, whatever, track 'em all .

If y'all get some, carefully install them, test them out, and hopefully they're good; and cheap enough if not, to not fret about.

Probably OK if you basically stay in one location. It would be tough to purchase Sim cards in each country to say track an outboard on your dink. Doable.

[Kenomac]

Gordon,

My wife and I have solved this issue by owning folders which we can easily take on and off the boat and into stores and restautants with us. No need or temptation to leave them locked up outside anywhere. Replace your bike with a Brompton or similar.

Where are you now in Croatia? I'm near Stari Grad.

[Sawbonz]

Being as I am considering buying an electric Tern after just selling my Bromptons this post struck a chord. I think I might well attach a Tile to a new bike. They use Bluetooth and anyone who walks buy the Tile with the app running on their phone will send the location to a database that will then notify the owner. Once my wife was notified that she had helped someone find their keys, though they didn't give details.

[athene]

Thanks for all the advice, chaps. I'll take a look at the GPS trackers, though my first priority is a Secure Gold standard lock such as this one: Wiggle | Abus Granit X-Plus 540 300MM D-Lock | D Locks.

I should have realised that even in a supposedly secure marina there are probably several score yachts around with bolt croppers aboard. Only one of our two bikes was stolen, which sadly doesn't suggest it was professional bike thieves.

Kenomac, we're stuck in Marina Dalmacija, where we've spent most of the past two months refitting following a lightning strike and trying to cure my wife of persistent bronchitis.

I guess this just ain't our lucky season...

GORDON KNIGHT