California e-bike rider spends $400 on locks, then sees thieves cut the chain and steal someone else's bike

After spending nearly $400 on locks for a new e-bike, a Los Angeles rider witnessed the very scenario they hoped to avoid: two people cutting a bicycle's chain before loading the bike into their car's trunk.

Here's what to know

The rider, a software developer living in Little Tokyo, recently shared their experience in Reddit's r/eBikes community. 

Their new Velotric Discover 3 let them take on DoorDash and Uber Eats deliveries and gave them a chance to get outside instead of spending the entire workday at a computer. The original poster wrote, "I was expecting riding around download LA to be stressful, but it's honestly been easier than I thought… The biggest headache though, is theft and parking."

The OP then asked the Reddit forum, "What do you do when there's nothing secure to lock your pike to?"

Immediately, commenters flooded the thread with their two cents and recommendations. The top comment read, "When I bought my eBike and same day bought a tracker to place hidden somewhere inside my eBike."

Another wrote, "I just had my ebike stolen – today… Do yourself a favor… Get a brake/wheel lock on top of a lock to secure it to something. It's so easy to steal an ebike that's been broken free from its lock IF it's freely rolling or rideable from that point."

A third user added, "Fear of theft is the main thing that keeps me from cycling more. I mostly only bike places that I know have decently secure parking."

Other riders shared their own approaches, including hidden trackers, built-in tracking systems, and multiple locks. One Aventon owner said they use an obvious decoy tracker while relying on the bike's built-in tracker.

But of course, these personal strategies don't prove that any one anti-theft device guarantees protection.

OP concluded the thread, "Despite the issues, I'm really glad I got the bike. It's been fun exploring the city, and it's making me appreciate LA a bit more."

Where can I learn more?

Even with good locks, finding a safe place to leave an e-bike can be a challenge. 

• A Pennsylvania kennel worker said a masked thief stole their e-bike just 50 feet away.

• California schools can try a new e-bike platform tracking safety training and parking permits.

• An e-bike mechanic said cheap Amazon bikes save money upfront but face delays awaiting parts.

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