Theft

When you pull your car up on a quiet street at night, do you park under a street light thinking it will dissuade a thief from breaking into your car? New research challenges that assumption, finding rates of vehicle theft drop when street lights are off.

If a thief is sufficiently motivated, they can get through pretty much any bike lock. That's where the PentaLock comes in – it makes a bicycle un-pedalable, regardless of whether or not that bike is also locked up to an adjacent object.

While not everyone wants to lug around a heavy, bulky U-lock, they may worry about thieves trying to get through a lighter-duty lock. That's where the alarm-equipped electronic Pealock is designed to come in.

So-called "porch pirates" are generally looking for packages that they can grab quickly and easily – if anything presents a challenge, they'll move on to another porch. It was with this in mind that the Snare Parcel Protection system was created.

It can be a hassle, removing your bike lock from its frame mount (or from your bag) every time you want to use it. The Lobster Lock is different, though, in that it stays attached to your bike at all times – even when the lock is in use.

Even when a thief can't steal a complete bike, they'll still pilfer parts off of it – and that includes the saddle. That's where the Quick Release Seatpost comes in, as it allows riders to quickly remove and replace the saddle themselves.

If you regularly park your bike in the same place and need something to lock it up to, it can be frustrating to always be searching for a signpost or whatnot. Hiplok's new Ankr is made to help, serving as a semi-permanent locking point.

When it comes to locking your bike securely, a U-lock is pretty much the best way to go. The things are heavy, though, plus their rigid shackles can't be bent to pass around obstacles. That's where the Litelok Flexi-U Silver is designed to come in.

We've been seeing an increasing number of "smart" bike locks lately, most of which sound an audible alarm if messed with. So, what if you like that feature, but are otherwise happy with your "dumb" lock? Well, that's where the Alarmbox comes in.

Although headlights are essential for safe night-time bicycle commuting, the things may get stolen when the bike is left unattended. The Orb Droid addresses this problem, by actually integrating into the handlebar stem.

Bicycle seats are relatively easy to steal, which is where the user-removable SeatyGo comes in.

Invented by siblings Joe and Christine Edell, the AirLock is both a tire pump and a cable lock.