An angle grinder, a handheld power tool commonly used for cutting or grinding metal, has become a favored tool among thieves targeting electric bicycles. These tools can cut through most U-shaped locks in under a minute, even high-end models. In response, Oxford Products, a British company specializing in bicycle and motorcycle accessories, has developed a new range of locks called Grinder, designed to resist such attacks, as reported by Road.cc. The Grinder locks feature a hardened steel handle core with a square cross-section. The S1 model has a 14 mm thick handle, while the S2 model has a 16 mm thick handle. The locks are also coated with silicon carbide, one of the hardest abrasives, on the faceted surface of the handle. This design is intended to cause an angle grinder’s disk to bounce instead of cutting through the lock. According to Oxford’s product description, the irregular geometry of the handle "diverts the angle grinder disks from one edge to the other, quickly destroying the disks." To further complicate the task for thieves, the Grinder locks include a double locking mechanism that prevents the handle from rotating. This means a thief would need to cut through both sides of the handle to free the bicycle. Oxford claims that it takes an average of ten angle grinder disks to cut through one side of the S1 model and fifteen for the thicker S2 model. Each lock also carries the Sold Secure Diamond certification, the highest level of security according to British standards. The Grinder S1 short model (LK375) costs £179.99 (approximately €210), while the longer S1 model (LK376) is priced at £199.99 (about €233). The S2 model (LK377) with the thicker handle costs £219.99 (around €257). Prices are listed in British pounds, and Oxford has not yet announced availability or pricing in euros for the French market.