Is Bicycle Theft Putting People off Cycling

Reports suggest people are turning away from cycling due to ongoing high levels of bicycle theft. Read our latest post to learn more.

Bikes Keep Getting Stolen

The most recent crime-rate statistics tell us that, during 2024, England and Wales police forces received 57,153 reports of bicycle theft. This is down by 12% from the 2023 figure of 64,615 reports.

While these declining bike theft statistics might appear to be encouraging, its important to be aware of the apparent decline in cycling across the UK. Halfords, who are recognised as the preeminent supplier of bikes and cycling equipment, has recorded a 25% year-on-year fall in profits, which appears to reflect declining cycling interest.

Other cycling store vendors and professionals in the industry have reported that people are discouraged from cycling. Many cyclists tend to feel that bicycle theft is inevitable. Regardless of cycle theft security precautions, bikes continue to be taken. Many of today’s sophisticated e-bikes even include state-of-the-art tracking devices, but thieves are undeterred.

Is Bike Theft Effectively Decriminalised?

The Liberal Democrats have claimed that cycle theft has been effectively ‘decriminalised’ as statistics show that only around 11% of cases, reported to the police, are ever solved. Of these, only around 2% have actually resulted in an arrest and charge for the perpetrators. And these figures don’t take into account the many cycle thefts that are simply not reported to the police and therefore not recorded.

A YouGov political survey shows that 77% of respondents don’t expect the police would investigate reported cycle theft incidents properly. Only 11% of those surveyed said they did think the police would investigate cycle theft properly, the lowest level of confidence for any of the surveyed crimes.

In one case, Faisal Islam, BBC economics editor, tweeted that his bike, fitted with a tracker and disabling technology, had been stolen. He was able to track its movements after it was taken from London Bridge, then on to Stratford and finally to East Ham. This was reported to the police but they failed to follow up and closed the case the following day.

Criminals are effectively being emboldened by the lack of law enforcement. Organised gangs are continuously on the lookout for valuable bicycles they can quickly snatch into the back of a van. Some are sold via well known online marketplaces, such as Gumtree and Ebay and others are stripped down and sold as parts. Thieves know that police forces don’t have the resources to follow up, even when a bike is tracked with a sophisticated electronic tracker. This has led to some targeted cyclists effectively taking the law into their own hands to retrieve their treasured cycles. But the police have warned people not to put themselves at risk by challenging potentially dangerous criminals.

Recovering Stolen Bikes

Some cyclists, who’ve lost their valued bikes to thieves, have claimed that taking matters into their own hands, to track down their valued bikes, is the best hope of retrieving them. As noted, fewer than 3% of bike thefts, reported since 2019, have resulted in a charge or summons, according to police figures. This has led to a growing trend amongst targeted cyclists, to find out where their bikes have gone and attempt to get them back.

But police forces have warned people not to take action themselves, saying their actions could put them in danger and might harm an ongoing police investigation.

In one case, the female owner of a valuable, customised bike, found it for sale on social media, so she arranged to meet the seller, taking along her fiancee and a male friend for security. She told the police what she was planning to do and they didn’t attempt to dissuade her. She asked the seller if she could test-ride the bike and simply took it back. She said afterwards that she would have felt more secure if the police had offered to come along with her.

In another case, the location of a stolen bike was identified by the owner, due to a GPS tracker, hidden in the cycle frame. He told the police who said that an officer would be sent to the location if he “could go to the property and get eyes on the bike”. But when he did so the police told him that an officer could not be deployed. Subsequently, there was a heated exchange at the property during which the targeted cyclist was threatened with stabbing. But he was able to retrieve his stolen bike and no action was taken by the police.

Police forces actually recover a significant number of stolen bikes. But, because they can’t identify their rightful owners, these bicycles end up being sold at auction. A freedom of information request, submitted to the Metropolitan police, requesting information on the number of bikes sold at auction over 2020 and 2021, along with their value, showed that over 1200 bikes, with a total value of more than £60K, had been disposed of via auction over this time period.

Police forces recommend that cyclists get their bikes security marked and registered with the BikeRegister website. Security labelling acts as a visual deterrent to bike thieves and enables the owners of stolen bikes to be traced. Police also recommend recording specific details about the bike including the frame number and any distinguishing features or customisations. Avon and Somerset Police provide some excellent bike security recommendations on their website.

Bike Theft Impact

Bicycle theft is not a victimless crime. Many cycle theft victims are totally reliant on their bicycles as their only means of economical transport. The sudden loss of their valuable bikes has an immediate economic and emotional impact.

In one reported case, cycle thieves snatched a bike in under 20 seconds from outside a Halfords store. The bike had been locked and secured to an immovable post, but this wasn’t enough to deter or prevent thieves. The victim then saw their bike for sale on Gumtree, about a month after the theft. The police told the victim to contact the seller and view the bike to confirm it was his and they would then take action. When he tried to call the seller, the phone number was dead.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have any insurance and immediately had to buy another bicycle, funded from his savings. The experience left him with a high level of anxiety and concern, effecting his sleep and mental wellbeing. Victims of cycle theft commonly report how the experience has adversely affected their mental health.

Get Your Bike Insured

Sadly, many bicycles are either not insured at all or under-insured. Bikes are often included in home contents insurance, but this is only found to be inadequate when the bike has been stolen and the victim needs to make a claim. Home insurance policies will generally provide cover for when the bike is at home but it`s worth confirming that cover also applies to when the bicycle is elsewhere. And it`s also worth confirming whether the value of the bicycle is adequately covered.

While bicycle insurance isn’t mandatory it is an effective way to mitigate against the impact of theft. A fully comprehensive cycle insurance policy works in exactly the same way as car insurance. The policy will provide protection against the cost of accidental damage, cover for damage caused to someone else’s vehicle and can include 24/7 breakdown and recovery protection. Importantly, if the insured bike is stolen the policy will get the rider back on the road very quickly.

How to Prevent Your Bike from Being Stolen

When the ongoing, high rate of cycle crime is considered alongside the apparent lack of law enforcement it really isn’t surprising that many are turning away from cycling. The constant worry about bike security and the additional cost of insurance inevitably puts people off. But sensible bike security precautions can deter criminals and help keep valuable bikes secure.

Here are some primary tips.

Secure Your Bike Inside

Many people, who rely on their bikes, state that they never leave them outdoors. When at home they bring their bikes inside and they do the same when at work. Some employers even provide secure cycle storage lockers for their staff, monitored by CCTV and always securely locked.

Security Label All Bike Components

Anti-theft security labelling, all of the main bicycle components, makes the bike and its parts, very difficult to sell on the black market. This acts as a powerful anti-theft deterrent. It also helps the police return recovered bikes to their rightful owners.

Always Use a High Security Bicycle Lock

Using a robust, high security bicycle lock along with a security chain, threaded through the wheels and frame, is an important security precaution when out and about. Its also essential to attach the bike to an immovable structure or anchor point. And not to let the security chain lie on a solid concrete surface, that could potentially be used as an anvil to break the chain.

When taking a bike indoors, or storing in a bike security locker, its still a good idea to secure the bike with an approved lock. And when locking up a bike outdoors, choose a well lit, easily-seen location where there are plenty of people around.

Register Your Bike

Join BikeRegister.com and register your bike. This is a great resource that offers valuable advice along with security marking kits. Almost 1.5 million bikes are currently registered to their database which is also used by police forces.

Make note of your bicycle frame number and take a few photographs that clearly show any identifiable marks or customisations.

Remove Anything Removable

When securing your bike outdoors it makes sense to removed anything that’s easily detached such as lights, saddlebags, pumps etc. If thieves can’t overcome a bike lock they are likely to grab whatever they can.

Follow Advice From Insurers.

Most good quality bicycle insurance providers, along with police forces, offer valuable bicycle security guidance. This typically includes recommendations on the use of approved cycle locks and how to use them correctly. Insurers also provide instructions in how to safely secure bicycles in sheds, garages and outbuildings. Its important to follow these precautions to comply with the insurance policy.

For more information on Is Bicycle Theft Putting People off Cycling talk to Insight Security