Talks to Watch

How to steal a bike in NYC

305K views · Jul 18, 2006 · 5:06 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2009–2015

A 2006 video showing a man openly cutting the lock and stealing a bike in New York City while passersby, including police, ignore him.

Why Hacker News points people here: HN cites it as a demonstration of bystander indifference to bike theft.

“reminds me of this video showing indifference in NYC (even with cops in sight).”HN comment, 2009

What Hacker News said 3

Cites itjustlearningNov 2009

“reminds me of this video showing indifference in NYC (even with cops in sight).”

Shows bystander indifference to bike theft in NYC.

Full comment

stealing - reminds me of this video showing indifference in NYC (even with cops in sight).(substitute NYC with any major city) this video

in “French Ideal of Bicycle-Sharing Meets Reality” · view on HN
Cites itJachDec 2014

Shows bike theft draws little attention.

Full comment

Bit of a difference from harsh punishment not deterring theft of something you need to live vs. theft of something like a bike. When the punishments for stealing anything at all are as severe as hanging, exile, or losing a hand, do you really expect much else besides necessities to be stolen? I suppose you still might expect all sorts of things to be stolen if the chance of getting caught is nil, as it is with bikes -- you still need a strong enough probability of getting caught to back up whatever punishment is decreed, which is why bait bikes can be a helpful tool. I doubt better locks would work, I remembered this video from years ago on how even ridiculous methods of stealing a bike won't get much attention: this video (And if they did, a thief can probably convince most people it's their own bike and they lost the key/combo -- I kind of suspect that possibility goes through the minds of onlookers anyway.)

in “What happens to your bike after it’s stolen” · view on HN
Cites itjrockwaySep 2015

“Here's an old video about stealing bikes in NYC”

Old video of stealing bikes in NYC.

Full comment

Perhaps. Here's an old video about stealing bikes in NYC: this video Note that the guy is hacking away at the lock and the police show up. To tell him to not sit in an active traffic lane.

in “Lockpickers 3-D Print TSA Master Luggage Keys from Leaked Photos” · view on HN