Most bike locks will be able to cut the lock off for you, and are likely to charge a small fee for doing so. If your bike lock was not expensive this may be the best way forwards. Call around your local bike shops and ask if they can help! What is this?
The Cost Of Removing A Bike Lock
Locksmiths can help remove a bike lock, make you a new key, or rekey the lock. The charge for this service is about $70 - $160.
Wire/cable cutters
A pair of hand held cable cutters will snip through most cable locks in seconds. Cheap, inconspicuous and easy to carry around in a coat pocket, this is the tool that's most commonly used by bike thieves. And it's worth repeating again: they will cut through nearly all cable locks in seconds.
Without a doubt, the Altor SAF is the toughest bike lock on the market. Its shackle is 2.36″ (6cm) thick at its narrowest point, making it impossible to cut with bolt cutters and it took over 1 hour 40 minutes to defeat the SAF Lock with an angle grinder. Is There a Bike Lock That Can't Be Cut?
Closed Shackle Padlocks
By further shielding the shackle on both sides, it is extremely difficult for someone to cut through with either a bolt cutter—not enough room to grip and exert force—or an angle grinder—not enough exposed parts.
Every bike lock can be defeated if a thief has the right tools and enough time. The strongest bike locks just need more advanced tools and more time to break. So when you buy the most secure bike lock, you're just reducing the number of thieves who'll have the tools and the time to steal your bike.
What should I do? If you recorded the key number, you may be able to get replacement keys from a hardware store or locksmith. If you didn't record the number, contact a locksmith to remove your lock. Please note there will likely be a fee for this service.
Bolt cutters are the common tool of choice for to cut padlocks during forcible-entry.
It's so easy to get away with it
One major contributing factor to the increase in bike theft is that it's just so easy for criminals to get away with it. A bicycle's very nature makes it an easy target for theft: they are lightweight and simple to disassemble, making them easy to transport.
KNOWN AS ATPO
Created by Kryptonite in 1978, the Anti-Theft Protection Offer is a program that reimburses registered customers for a specific monetary amount in the event their bicycle/motorcycle is stolen due to the opening or breaking of the lock by force.
A lot of people think bike or motorcycle thieves pick locks. But that only works for simpler locks — the kind you can pick with a pen. In most cases, it's faster and easier to cut directly through the surrounding mechanism while avoiding the actual lock.
How much does a local locksmith cost? The national average cost to hire a locksmith is $150, but it can range from $50–$400. The locksmith may charge a flat rate, by the lock, or an hourly rate of $50-$75.
Try to use a pair of tweezers or needle nose pliers to get the piece out. If that does not work and your bike is locked up, your only option is to contact a locksmith and have them remove the lock. Take a picture of the lock, keys, key # and the locksmith bill and submit this info online.
The most secure way to lock your bike is with two locks. And ideally to a bike rack that's cemented into the ground. The first lock should go around the back wheel, the frame and the bike rack. The second should go around the front wheel, the frame and preferably the bike rack as well.
A closed shackle padlock is designed to have the minimum amount of shackle exposed; which means that if a criminal wants to saw it off, they will have a hard time doing so! This type of a shackle typically has a higher security rating compared to an open or semi enclosed shackle.
Many shackle locks have brittle lock housings or lock mechanisms. Brace the bottom of the U against whatever the bike is locked to, and hit the cross-bar good and hard with at the lock with a hammer and they'll pop open.
A key bike lock is more secure than a combination bike lock. Most key locks at least need a specialised device to pick them. A combo lock requires no special skill. A determined thief will find a way to steal a bicycle, but the last thing they want to do is 'work' to get their hands on your machine.
Bolt cutters are designed to cut through screws, bolts, and other metal fasteners. These fixings can often be substantial in diameter, so bolt cutters come in a variety of sizes with long handles and lever mechanisms.