A stroller, like any other form of transport, can become an object of interest from thieves. This is not surprising, because a good branded stroller can cost tens of thousands of rubles, and it is practically impossible to prove that this stroller has been stolen.
One could advise simply not to leave the stroller unattended, but this is not always convenient: sometimes mothers cannot enter the store with the stroller, or they are simply uncomfortable every day to lower and lift a bulky structure up the steps, therefore they prefer to store it at the entrance to the staircase ... In order to most likely find movable property where it was left, it is worth considering the choice of an anti-theft lock.
Operating principle
In terms of the mechanism of operation, the anti-theft lock for a stroller almost completely repeats a similar lock for a bicycle. As a rule, a special cable is used that can be closed. In the case of sidecars, it is attached not only to the wheels, as would be the case with bicycles, but sometimes to the folding mechanism of the sidecar.
As in the situation with two-wheeled vehicles, such locks are divided into two types. The first of them opens with an ordinary key, and therefore costs much cheaper, but it has enough disadvantages: a thief can pick up a master key, the owners themselves may discover too late that they have lost the key
In this regard, a combination lock turns out to be much more reliable, although it costs, respectively, more expensive.
It should be understood that such a lock is still not a one hundred percent guarantee of the safety of the stroller, because the same cable, if you have the desire and time, can simply be rubbed or cut with something sharp. If the stroller is left at the entrance to the supermarket, where there are always a lot of people, then the attacker may be afraid to steal, but if the stroller was left in the entrance for the whole night, then a daring and enterprising criminal will find a way to open the lock.
Criterias of choice
The first criterion has already been said a little above: each consumer chooses for himself what type of lock he thinks is more reliable and practical. But the selection criteria do not end there, so it is worth considering them more carefully.
- Reliability is a key factor in choosing a lock. If the choice fell on the cable (or a chain related to the cable), you need to choose one that is very problematic to break or saw through. As an alternative, metal D-shaped locks that fix the wheels are also offered, but an attacker is able to take away an expensive stroller even on his hands, and only then in a secluded place and with tools to solve the problem with such a lock.
- Compactness and light weight are also important, since the mother already has to carry the baby with her, a heavy stroller and a bunch of small necessary things. In this context, the cable turns out to be better again, especially since you can choose a longer or shorter version.
By the way, in the case of a cable, it is recommended to choose a longer one - thanks to this, the number of parking spaces available for parking expands.
- Ease of use is also an important selection criterion. Being an insoluble problem for a thief, the lock should be removed almost instantly in the hands of the owner, and just as quickly put on.
- Castle cost in some cases, it can almost reach the cost of an inexpensive stroller, so such a purchase will look impractical. However, an exception in favor of a really expensive lock can be made if it is reliable, durable and compact, and bicycles are also actively used in the family.
The cost
Locks for bicycles and strollers can vary in cost due to different manufacturers, but no established authority usually stands out here. Choosing a lock is for practical reasons, not the brand name. Below is the approximate cost of the most popular types of locks as of mid-2018.
- Cable locks cost in the range of 500-5500 rubles. The price strongly depends on the material from which the cable is made and its length.
- Chain models are an order of magnitude more expensive than cable cables - from 1400 to 16 thousand rubles. The price still depends on the length, but the reliability is almost always higher than that of a simple cable.
- Locks with code, contrary to the expectations of many, they cost 700-5000 rubles.
- Metal D-Locks provide high reliability provided convenient parking and cost about 5-9 thousand rubles.
For more details on popular models of wheelchair locks, see the following video.
