Comments on: Bike lock spews dye when would-be thieves try to snatch your ride

By: Planto

Planto — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:05:04 +0000

If it really is Smartwater then it’s not a dye… it’s a colourless liquid that contains forensic markers that are “almost impossible to remove”. My brother works on a country estate in the UK and they use it to protect farm equipment and even slate tiles (which are very prone to being stolen due to their cost). My only question is – why not just coat your bike in SmartWater anyhow… after all, once it’s stolen, it’s gotta be found somehow…

By: Paul G

Paul G — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:33:43 +0000

An even better idea – why doesn’t the lock just throw insults at the thief. The guy will have your bike but feel bad for have taken it.

By: Little Red Ryan Hood

Little Red Ryan Hood — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:54:05 +0000

This is stupid a stupid idea. Similar to DrDrew’s thought of dye packs (rendering the stolen money useless) getting sprayed with some ink really does nothing to me when I steal your Bianchi. Sure I’d be covered in ink but I’d have your bike, I ride home, soak my inked clothes in cold water for a bit, then take a shower, now I’m not covered in ink and have a sweet free bike.

By: drdrew

drdrew — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:39:33 +0000

Excellent idea; however, (and maybe I’m wrong) but I get the feeling that the bike owner may end up in more trouble than the would-be thief. This screams of the “exploding dye pack” used ~~in so many movies~~ by banks to foil robberies, but that is a federal crime and an act allowable by the top level.

I can’t rig a gun to my door handle so when a thief opens it he gets shot in the face (unfortunately). So what happens when the dumbass cutting the chain is kneeling down like he’s the owner opening the lock to conceal what he’s actually doing and when he cuts it this stuff in his eyes? Won’t owner will be liable for bodily injury?

Anyway, good idea, but may need bit of a legality check. Yes? No?