It might make you sick to think someone would try to steal your motorcycle, but now there is Skunklock that actually makes the thief vomit by spraying them with a noxious chemical.
The aptly titled product contains a pressurised concoction of chemicals that sprays in the face of the thief if they try to cut the lock.
The American inventors of Skunklock are seeking crowd funding through an Indiegogo campaign to get the product to market for about $US140 each.
Skunklock inventor Daniel Idzkowski claims the lock is legal in the USA and that they are “establishing compliance in some of the most bike-theft-stricken countries”.
They include the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Sweden and Japan.
However, we don’t expect Skunklock will come to Australia.
According to our legal advice, Skunklock would not be allowed here as it would be considered a booby trap.
“Whilst a citizen is entitled to protect his or her property, that must be done within the criminal law; eg assault and the various defences like self-defence, provocation etc,” our legal adviser says.
“So to lay a trap which may injure someone innocently touching the lock, like a child, I suspect exposes the lock owner to criminal liability for assault, causing bodily harm etc.
“I am not sure that it would be legal in the USA in all circumstances, although US courts appear to take a pretty cavalier attitude to self-defence given the prevalence of guns there and oft-stated purpose that citizens need guns; ie to protect themselves from all the other lunatics that have guns, or may have a gun.”
Skunklock warning
The Skunklock also features a coloured warning to the thief of the dangers of being sprayed, so couldn’t a thief just wear a mask?
Daniel says the formula they have developed is “detectable through even some of the most robust gas masks (unfortunately, we learned this the hard way!)”.
He says it also “ruins the clothes worn by the thief or any of the protection they may be wearing, and replacing these items is likely more expensive than the resale value of your stolen bike”.
- Would you kick up a stink if someone tried to steal your bike, or would you prefer a bike lock to do the job for you?