Stolen batteries

[Jan2812]

I've just had the battery stolen from my bike. Not much I could have done to have prevented the theft but I'd like to know if there is a ready market for secondhand batteries (without keys and charger!) and, if so, what are the most popular outlets - Gumtree etc.

And do other pedelec owners think that the anti-theft measures the manufacturers build into their products are still woefully flimsy?.

 

[Angelnorth]

Sorry to hear that, Jan. I don't have any experience to offer I'm afraid, just wanted to commiserate.

 

[Yamdude]

I assume it was locked to the bike ?.... and was it a rear rack battery or on the downtube ?
Just wondered how easy they are to remove without a key and if you'd have to damage the cradle to do it.

Its something that i've often thought about when locking my bike in town for a while, but i cant be assed to carry the battery around with me.... even though i only have a 9amp/hr bottle battery, but it would be a hassle.

 

[Jan2812]

It was a 16Ah on a Freego Eagle. The entire locking system relies on the strength of one screw that attaches the aluminium guiderail to the frame.

The battery was marked so that I can recognise it straight away, I shall be keeping a sharp lookout - not that I have ever seen another Eagle in the area.

 

[Jan2812]

The police were worse than useless. I'm not expecting them to do anything, but in the old days you could go to your local station and 1) they would probably know the local villains who specialised in that kind of crime and 2) where they would most likely fence them. Now you get to talk on line with a call centre operator who is more interested in reording your race and sexual proclivities :-(

 

[Angelnorth]

Just a thought - do you have insurance that covers damage/vandalism to your bike? Presumably the police would give you a case number which would mean you could make an insurance claim, even if they can't be much use in recovering the stolen battery.

 

[Jan2812]

I do have household insurance and I did get a crime number. I am always loathe to make claims on insurance though.

I'd had the battery for 5 years so it didnt owe me anything but I'd always been conscious of the poor security.

Are there any security measures/devices beyond taking the battery with you?

 

[Angelnorth]

I do have household insurance and I did get a crime number. I am always loathe to make claims on insurance though.

I'd had the battery for 5 years so it didnt owe me anything but I'd always been conscious of the poor security

I guess it will depend on their attitude to replacement value/depreciation as to whether it's worth making a claim in that case.

Maybe ask Freego if they have battery security suggestions if nobody here has ideas? I guess all batteries fit/lock in slightly different ways which may make them more or less difficult to remove without causing them damage (thieves won't care if the bike's damaged but if the battery's connectors are ripped to shreds in the process of removing it it's not much good to them).

 

[Alan Quay]

I do have household insurance and I did get a crime number. I am always loathe to make claims on insurance though.

I'd had the battery for 5 years so it didnt owe me anything but I'd always been conscious of the poor security.

Are there any security measures/devices beyond taking the battery with you?

I guess it depends if you have a new for old policy.

Having not ever in 25 years made an household insurance claim, my attitude recently changed when I discovered that my wife has happily been paying the £900/year premium to Direct Line. (It should be closer £300). If they are happy to rip me off I'm going to seek out opportunities to screw them back, and encourage others to do so.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I agree with Alan. You can pay by solidarity if you wish but someone is claiming and taking part of the money you pay in - after the company takes its huge profit of course.

5 years is too old, they will say that they have been amortized and I would tend to agree with them on that. I am guessing that a three year old battery is about the oldest you could claim on.

 

[Nealh]

May have been taken for a reason other wise may end up on the Gum of Fleabay thinking a few quid can be made.

 

[Gringo]

I've known car windows smashed for the sake of a newspaper left on the dash ! So a quick kick with the flat of a foot is enough to rip the rivnuts out of a frame, it's no trouble to the thief and they might have done it for no reason, just because they can sorry for your loss