How are bikes stolen?

This isn't a pun title, I mean just that! I have a driveway where my bike sits, but there is only a fat chain and disklock that's stopping it being rolled away. Any old posse could push it onto a mattress, pull it into the back of a van and drive off with it.

What other tricks to thieves use, and how can one counteract them?

I had one nicked chain and all, lifted into a van along with 2 other bikes down my street (I have since moved).

Get a proper ground anchor they won't be able to get it with out making a racket cutting metal etc.

[Red Herring]

Out of sight, out of mind. Don't leave it on show!

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Out of sight, out of mind. Don't leave it on show!

^^ This

[NTECUK]

Concrete a square section of tube in a u shape in the drive .
Loop the chain through that . Then roll the lock out of harms way if you can.
If they want it bad enough even then they will find a way .
an alarm only works if you can hear it as you can't rely on other s getting involved.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Out of sight, out of mind. Don't leave it on show!

I go with that theory, and if I cant park it out of sight then I park it in full view.

In honesty I've never heard of the onto a mattress trick, I've heard of lifting one end (the end with the disc lock) then it been rolled along on one wheel.

My biggest worry now is that if I get my garage broken into, they only need shut the garage door and they can take all the time they need to get into the house. They could literally empty all the valuables from the house into the garage and then load a van up in minutes. I'd feel awful if that were to happen, the house is the family home and if it were my bikes which attracted the theifs I'd feel responsible for that invasion.

[kaivalagi]

Get yourself a ground anchor you can bolt into concrete or an external wall atleast, < £20 for a basic one that'll do the job

[Fallout]

These are still by far the best security devices. Mine so far have been faultless, and I haven't had to buy dog food since purchase.

[NTECUK]

You can only do so much Ownski .
a good garage door and a lock puts most off.
and put a decent door and lock from garage to house.

[Littlepeahead]

Buy a bike like Fallout's Gixxer, pile of cr@p with orange wheels. You could probably leave it in Moss Side on a street corner with the engine running and the keys in the ignition and no one would nick it.

If we go on holiday and take the car I ask the neighbours to park their car in front of our garage doors as that way the garage simply can't be opened. Plus it makes it look like someone is home.