How Common Is Bike Theft?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Bicycle theft in the U.S. Bicycle theft is an unfortunate occurrence and an increasing trend these past few years, and cyclists from the United States are no exception. According to the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report,

from 2007 to 2011, bicycle theft in the United States rose (on average) 14% each year

.

Why is bike theft so common?

Another reason theft is so prevalent is that

locks haven't kept pace with the times

. The ones that do work can be so expensive or so heavy that they actually deter people from riding in the first place. GPS trackers can locate a stolen bike, but do nothing to stop thieves who only want to strip its parts.

How often are bicycles stolen?

Let's Start With The Bike Theft Statistics

A bicycle is stolen

every 30 seconds

in the United States. That's roughly two million a year, totaling about $350 million . To give you some perspective, less than one million motor vehicles are stolen each year in America.

Where is bike theft most common?

In 2019/2020, around 14% of bikes were stolen from “grounds of a public place”, including

local shops, supermarkets, gyms, pubs, football clubs

, and more. Another 5% were stolen from outside the workplace (or the workplace car park), and another 9% were taken straight from the streets.

Are bike thieves common?

Bicycle theft in the U.S.

Bicycle theft is an unfortunate occurrence and an increasing trend these past few years, and cyclists from the United States are no exception

. According to the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report, from 2007 to 2011, bicycle theft in the United States rose (on average) 14% each year.

Which bikes get stolen the most?

Characteristic Number of thefts American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 8,122 Yamaha Motor Corporation 6,495 Harley Davidson, Inc. 4,737 American Suzuki Motor Corporation 4,686

Do bike thieves get caught?


Only 1.1% of London bike thefts see thieves being caught

, data reveals.

Do cheap bikes get stolen?


Any bike , cheap, expensive or otherwise will get pinched if the owner has given a thief half a chance

.

Where do most stolen bikes end up?

You might think the police will do nothing. You might think it's a waste of time. But the fact is that

almost half of stolen bikes are eventually recovered by the police

. And the only reason that just 5% of stolen bikes are returned to their owners is that the police can't link the bikes to the owners.

Do people still steal bikes?

The FBI publishes the percentage of bikes reported stolen each year in their yearly edition of Crime in the United States which is available on the FBI's website, www.fbi.gov.

In 2019, bicycles represented 3.1% of larceny-theft reported

, second only to motor vehicles.

How do bike thieves steal bikes?

How can I make my bike less attractive to thieves?

If you must leave your bike locked in a public place, don't make it look too perfect and shiny.

Some dirt or duct tape can make it look less attractive to the crooks

. For bicycle protection tape your seatpost, handlebars, and various places on your frame to make your bike parts look worn and shabby.

How safe is a bike?

Nationwide, you're

more than twice as likely to die while riding a bike than riding in a car, per trip

, according to a 2007 study led by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologist Laurie Beck. Bike riding is also about 500 times more fatal than riding in a bus.

Are pink bikes less likely to be stolen?


The bright colours are thought to reduce the risk of theft

as it is easier to spot the thief and may make the bike less easy to sell. As only a few students are willing to take the effort and want to be seen riding a yellow or pink bicycle, these paint jobs have been stable practice for at least a couple of decades.

How do I lock my bike to prevent theft?

How do you keep a bike safe?

  1. Double lock it. Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target. …
  2. Lock the lot. …
  3. Secure it. …
  4. Take removable parts with you. …
  5. Park securely. …
  6. Register it. …
  7. Mark it. …
  8. Remember safety begins at home.

How often are bikes stolen in London?

City Borough Recorded bicycle thefts per 1,000 people in 2020
London


Islington


5.4

What bikes are stolen?

London 1 Specialized 27.6% 2 Trek 17.3% 3 Giant 11.5% 4 Carrera 8.4%

How do you break a Kryptonite D lock?

Hold the angle grinder in both hands and slowly press the blade against one of the U-shaped sides of the Kryptonite U lock. Press the blade against the U-side locks until the blade cuts through. It could take anything between 15 seconds to several minutes to complete this task.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.