Bicycle pump paint bomb vs bike thief

Thieves might be becoming evermore brazen, but the last thing they will ever expect to confront is this bicycle paint bomb. Secreted within the tubing of the bike rack is a compressed canister of brightly coloured criminal identifier - a spray gel that is sold legally in Britain. While the bicycle is in place, its weight prevents the marker gel canister from firing. However, when it is removed by a thief, a powerful spring contract and causes the canister to spray its contents into the face of the thief.

The gel causes no harm to the thief, but if it is not immediately washed away with clean water, it stains the skin bright red for up to two weeks. The design features a safety pin that is put in place by the owner of the bicycle to ensure the spray is not activated my mistake.

Bicycle paint bomb - How did we build it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOxZSrnphak&feature=youtu.be

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The ingredients for our bicycle paint bomb are a criminal identifier marker gel, a cheap bicycle pump, a 38 mm waste pipe and three pipe clamps - costing a grand total of £25. The only tools we used were a drill and a hand saw.

The bicycle bomb is one a series of outlandish anti-theft devices we are building this summer to highlight the need for more robust policing with regards to bike theft - as well a good cycle insurance policy. Our other DIY theft countermeasures include The Biskiple, our fake skip for storing bikes and the water bottle smoke grenade.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

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