Legal Advice: If I lock my bike in a mall, in a 100% safe location, can the security legally cut my bike lock?

So here's the deal. I locked my bike in a mall entrance because it was raining outside and bike chains rust easily. There were no outside bike lock stations to begin with, no signs saying where or where not you could lock your bike up etc.

I parked my bike in a completely safe location that would not impair walking traffic, cause any sort of safety hazard, or cause any harm to any person, animal, or object who came in contact with my bike.

The security dept cut my bike lock handed it back to me and told me to beat it basically. They gave no reasons or regulations for why they chose to destroy my bike lock, and failed to provide a legal reason for their actions.

I want a refund, what do I do?

So here's the deal. I locked my bike in a mall entrance because it was raining outside and bike chains rust easily. There were no outside bike lock stations to begin with, no signs saying where or where not you could lock your bike up etc.

I parked my bike in a completely safe location that would not impair walking traffic, cause any sort of safety hazard, or cause any harm to any person, animal, or object who came in contact with my bike.

The security dept cut my bike lock handed it back to me and told me to beat it basically. They gave no reasons or regulations for why they chose to destroy my bike lock, and failed to provide a legal reason for their actions.

I want a refund, what do I do?

And NO I was not present when a guard took my bike, I had no warning or notice of their intentions to cut my lock before hand or during.

Since he cut it and handed it to you then you must have been there. Did he ask you to remove the bike from the mall and you refused? If he did then he has every right to cut the chain.

They do not have to give you a reason and they will not give you a refund. You can only leave your bike in the designated bike racks, if there are none then it means they do not want bikes on their property. You say it was in a safe place, they will say you were blocking people's entrance.

Honestly, I'd probably drop this one & chalk it up to a bad experience.

You might feel differently & choose to go to war. In that case I would call the mall's management company & nicely inquire about the locations of bike racks & the rules regarding their usage. They might give you another lock. Might. It sounds like the security guard cut your lock & waited around to hand it to you which makes the cutting it a spiteful gesture. So maybe if you are nice...

A mall is generally private property. They have the right to decide who & what can be on their property. & if they don't want your bike in their entrance... that's pretty much the end of it. Hopefully in the future there will be more & more bike friendly spots as more folks start using them for transportation. You might try doing a google search for bike friendly spots in your area.

Choose your battles. This is NOT one I would choose. Go buy a new lock and have a nice ride. The blackholes of evil would not know or understand YOUR point of view because it is not THEIR point of view. The judge will side with the guard. Do you recall how many times an officer has shot an unarmed citizen and was not punished?

In addition, one legal conversation with just about anyone will cost more than the lock, so don't "cost" yourself one dollar more than absolutely necessary. Lesson learned. Don't do it again unless you get "permission" first.

Get even in other ways. Seek out a foundation that might pay for proper bicycle racks to encourage riding instead of gasoline powered vehicles. Paint the bike rack "green" and dedicate it to YOURSELF, and the GUARD. LOL!!!

That'd be really cool.