Having your bike stolen is soul-destroying but, should it happen, there are several things you can do to improve the chances of being reunited with your pride and joy.
There are approximately 285,000 cycle thefts a year in England and Wales, according to the UK's National Cycle Database, BikeRegister, meaning you probably know someone who has already had their bike pinched.
Here are four steps to follow – and our advice on how to prevent your bike from being stolen in the first place.
1) Report it to the police
The first thing to do is report the theft to the police.
In the UK, you can do this online, by visiting a police station or by calling 101. If your bike was stolen from a railway station, you need to contact the British Transport Police.
If you’re not based in the UK, check your government website for advice. However, reporting the theft to the police is likely to remain an essential step.
When reporting the theft, consider whether there is any additional information you can provide that will help to identify the bike, including:
- The frame number
- Your bike’s cycle database number (if you have one; we’ll come on to this)
- A photo (or photos) of your bike
- Information about any easily identifiable or unique features
While there have been recent reports of British Transport Police saying it will not investigate bike thefts at train stations where the bicycle has been left for more than two hours, this decision has been reversed, so make sure you make a report and chase them.
2) Report it as stolen on a bike database
Next, it’s a good idea to report the bike as stolen on BikeRegister (if you're based in the UK).
BikeRegister is recognised as the National Cycle Database, and is used by all UK police forces. If you're not in the UK, look for an equivalent service where you live.
Registering your bike and reporting it as stolen might make it easier for members of the public or the police to quickly prove your bike is in the wrong hands if it’s spotted for sale online.
BikeRegister is a free service that enables users to:
- Register a bike – you can do this before it is stolen, while it is in your possession
- Check the status of a bike if buying second-hand
- Check your area for bikes reported as stolen
Because police forces have access to the database, they can check BikeRegister to try to find an owner, if a bike has been recovered.
If you have previously listed your bike on BikeRegister, remember to change its status from ‘In possession’ to ‘Stolen’.
You can also buy a ‘marking kit’ from BikeRegister, which enables you to apply a security mark to your bike, with a unique ID.
3) Contact your insurer
If your bike is insured, you need to contact the insurance company to start the claim process.
Before you contact them, make sure you have the crime reference number from the police, your insurance policy number and proof of purchase to hand.
Bike insurance comes mainly from two sources. The first is bike-specific insurance.
If you haven’t taken out bike insurance, you should check whether your pride and joy is covered under any other insurance policies you might have.
Home insurance policies, for example, can sometimes cover the theft of your bike. We’ve covered the pros and cons of using bike insurance compared to a home insurance policy.
It’s worth noting that most insurers will only pay out if you’ve followed a set of conditions relating to how and where the bike was locked. Your insurer should have a document outlining the conditions you have to meet.
It’ll probably be very specific and might not be the most riveting read, but if you take out bike insurance, give it a careful read and make sure you comply with the terms.
If your bike is more expensive, it might be worth contacting your insurance company and having it added as a named item on your policy.
4) Spread the word
Now it’s time to spread the word, via social media, local community groups (including cycling clubs) and bike shops.
Bike thieves will often try to make a quick buck from a sale, so spreading the word might help your bike get spotted should it pop up online for sale.
How to prevent your bike from being stolen
While bike thefts are an unfortunate reality of life, following these steps will help to deter a thief.
- Check your privacy settings on cycling apps such as Strava, Komoot or Ride With GPS. It is possible to hide the start and finish of your ride or make rides visible only to people you trust. This will keep the location of where you keep your bike hidden.
- If locking your bike away from home, try to choose a location that’s within eyesight of where you’ll be. This, of course, isn’t always possible, but locking your bike in a busy area, covered by CCTV, may also put off a would-be thief, compared to a dark alley.
- Don’t overlook the need to lock your bike in what might be deemed a ‘secure’ facility, such as the bike store at your workplace or at home.
- Always lock your bike to a solid and immovable object, which is meant for bike-locking purposes – such as a bike rack. Your bike can be removed by a land or building owner if locked to private property.
- If possible, use two locks, with one to secure the front wheel and frame, and the other to secure the rear wheel and frame. We’ve also got more detailed advice on how to lock a bike.
- Use one of the best bike locks, with a good Sold Secure rating. The rating system runs from diamond at the top – these locks offer the toughest protection – to gold, silver and then bronze at the bottom. Many insurers will require you to secure your bike with a particular type of lock. Many require you to use a Sold Secure gold-rated lock for bikes valued at £2,501 and over. If you step up to a diamond-rated lock, they’ll give you 5 per cent off your premium.
Before you walk away from your bike after locking it securely, remember to take any easily removable accessories with you, such as a bike computer or lights.
