SkunkLock – bicycle security that’s causing a stink

No lock is safe from a crook equipped with power tools, so in the fight against theft, bicycle security is becoming ever more imaginative.

Shunklock is a D-lock that’s pressurized with a noxious chemical deterrent. When the lock is cut, a cloud of gas containing an irritant is released into the air surrounding the thief.

The noxious chemicals induce vomiting as well as the instinct to flee. The active ingredient is capsaicin - an active component of chili peppers.

According to the inventor of the Skunklock, Daniel Idzkowski, “the value of the stolen bike market in 2012 was well over $350 million. It’s only gone up over the years because bicycle prices have risen dramatically with the explosion of electric bikes, making your lovely new bike even more valuable to crooks.”

The SkunkLock can be pre-ordered via indiegogo

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If the average D-lock seems too passive a way of protecting against bicycle theft, check out BIKE MINE - the world's loudest alarm.

When thieves come for your bicycle in the dead of night they have a massive advantage. You are asleep. They have time to prise open sheds and dismantle locks in peace. The answer, according to the makers of BIKE MINE, is to use the world's loudest alarm.

When tripped by a thief, BIKE MINE detonates a 150 dB blast of sound; more than enough to startle a thief and raise the alarm. It's an idea that isn't intended to replace the need for a good insurance policy, but rather a simple, low-tech means of protecting your bicycle when it's stored on your property.

BIKE MINE comprises a length of titanium wire, a spring-loaded trap and a small detonator. Velcro straps allow it to be attached quickly to any type of bicycle and a neoprene rubber coating protects the frame from unwanted scratches. The design has the advantage of being low-tech; there are no batteries to run down and only one moving part, which means reliability around the clock and in all weathers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtvRLPLO52k&feature=youtu.be

Protect your bicycle from £1.85 per month

BIKE MINE might be an innovative approach to tackling theft, but it can't protect beyond the boundaries of your property. In other words, it can't replace the need for a good cycle insurance policy. Unlike most insurers, ETA never devalue your bicycle if it's stolen. It's just one of the reasons they were voted by the Good Shopping Guide to be an ethical company like no other. Get an instant quote here

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