Have you ever thought about bike-theft deterrent systems and then thought about blasting would-be thieves with a cloud of Pepé Le Pew spew to keep them at bay? No? Well then you’re lucky, because now some people have! And their invention, Skunklock, gives any ol’ bike-stealing punk a real nose-full of vomit-inducing skunk.
Boing Boing recently picked up on the Skunklock, a product developed by a couple of San Francisco residents named Daniel Idzkowski and Yves Perrenoud. And the project, which has already far surpassed its $20,000 goal on crowd-funding site Indiegogo, takes aim squarely at people who kept stealing Idzkowski and Perrenoud’s bikes.
“The real last straw was [when] we had a friend park his very expensive electric bike outside a Whole Foods, and then went to have lunch and chat. We went out and his bike was gone,” Idzkowski told The Guardian.
In response to their personal experiences with bike thievery, as well as the 1.5 million bikes that are stolen in general each year (according to Skunklock’s Indiegogo statistic), the duo set out to make a lock that nobody would want to cut. The result of their effort is a “hardened medium-carbon steel U-Lock” that packs a “Falcon Punch!” No, no wait—it packs a “Power Punch.”
Idzkowski told The Guardian that the Skunklock’s Power Punch “[is] pretty much immediately vomit inducing, [and] causes difficulty breathing.” He likened the effects it has to that of pepper spray.
Basically, Idzkowski says that if you’re anywhere within a 10-foot radius of one of these locks after it goes off, well, you won’t want to be there much longer. It’s sort of like the Zoidberg defense (if his stink gland that emits foul odors when he’s bored worked like his defensive ink bladders.)
The SKUNKLOCK will set you back $109, but if it actually keeps your bike from being stolen, that’s probably worth it. Although your bike still may smell awful even if it repels an attack. Again, like Zoidberg.
What do you think about this gas-blasting bike lock? Is a blast of noxious gas really necessary to protect one’s bike? Do you think thieves may simply put on gas masks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Images: Skunklock
