Since the Kryptonite / Bike shepherd system is free to register (with fee for sticker) it is a win /win situation to have a universal database accessible online and the extra (psychological) repository for bicycle serial numbers that can be accessed by law enforcement, owners of the bikes and potential buyers.
I find it different than the old school register with the police and fire department because now that our law and public protector institutions treat us like barcodes, we don’t get personal service.
I’ve unfortunately had three bikes stolen in the last 6 months and have 2-5 bikes reported stolen to my shop each week in the East San Francisco Bay Area. Another one swiped in Sacramento while at a convention locked with a kryptonite.
The only real solution to bike theft is bike facilities that reduce the time and access that thieves have to get to your bike. Police treat bike theft like a misdemeanor, and send you to an online form ... Even if you know your beat cop, they are told to de prioritize going after bike and car thieves.
Two years ago m partner was assaulted in our house during a robbery where a hand build Merx was stolen. Not only did they not care or investigate, when I located the bike via tips from bike shop owners and Craig’s list. The retrieved the bike from the offender without asking questions to placate me forgetting it was a felony robbery and assault case.
They hear bike and think it's child’s play...
I can say you get nothing from them without the serial # in hand or in a registry to prove you bought the bike or possessed it at some point.
Any tool to get your customers to document the serial number will help the customer eventually wither or not kryptonite and the police give a damn about bikes as a primary source of mobility.
Use the database because it works... I can’t access the police database from my shop but bike shepherd allows me to scan the bike and track it. If I say to people I wont buy a bike unless it is registered maybe we can inspire a trend to really make it work.
Craig’s list should have a bike serial number registry for anyone selling bikes or parts. On line EBay as well ...for the buyer and the seller’s protection .
Copy down your Serial number:
On every recipt from the Spokeshop the header says
“COPY DOWN UR BIKE SERIAL # IN CASE IT GETS STOLEN”
I say register your bike and put in a lojack gps system .
GPS TRACKER But what do you do when you locate your bike... You show your registry to the police. and hopefully your bike is worth more than 1k so you can press felony charges.
IMAGE: http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rvstUk6RG9w/T9Emy3RmX9I/AAAAAAAAHRw/C0wie6Q4zXk/image_...
http://www.gizmag.com/spybike-gps-tracker/22999/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dEeQCe2F_1I
