Over 75,000 bicycles are stolen in the UK each year. When you consider that a large proportion of people (up to 75%) don’t even report their stolen bicycles to the authorities, the potential figure is even more staggering.
That sinking feeling you get when you realise that your bike is no longer where you left it is sadly all too common, but there are things you can and should do as quickly as possible to maximise your chances of recovering it. Here's our guide on how to report a stolen bike.
1. Don’t panic!
It might sound like a cliché, but ensuring that you think and act rationally after discovering you’re the victim of this type of crime isn’t as easy as you might think.
Depending on where you are when your bicycle is stolen, you could be left stranded miles away from home, compounding the rollercoaster of emotions you’re likely to experience.
Many cyclists who have their bike stolen first enter a stage of shock or disbelief. “Did I leave my bike somewhere else today?”. Or, if it’s been taken from a communal area of your home, “maybe my neighbour just moved it?”.
After it’s clear that your bicycle really has gone missing, often the next emotion people experience is anger or outrage. Some people also feel embarrassed that they have been a victim of this type of crime, especially if they feel they didn’t adequately secure their bike and they blame themselves.
However, it’s important to make sure that you can set emotions aside and report your stolen bike to the authorities as soon as possible stand the best chance of getting your property back.
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2. Inform the police
Once you’ve confirmed your bike is truly gone, the next step is to report your stolen bike to the police. There are usually a couple of different ways in which you can do so.
Many local police forces no longer allow you to log a crime online but instead direct you to call them for non-urgent crime reports on 101. However, it is recommended whenever possible that you report your bike theft in person at your local police station.
This way you are usually able to provide any photos you have of your bike, plus the frame number, a description of the bike type and when and where it went missing. You can find your closest station by visiting www.police.uk.
If you are in London, you can also report your stolen bike to the Cycle Task Force by contacting them at cycletaskforce@met.police.uk.
Make sure that you receive a crime reference number from the member of the force that you speak to.
3. Inform your insurer
You’ll need to inform your cycle insurance provider as soon as possible after you’ve discovered the crime and reported it to the police. Preferably within 24 hours.
If you don’t have specific bicycle insurance and your bike was taken from your home, if you’re lucky it may be covered by your home contents insurance policy depending on the cover you have.
But when it comes to a claim on your household contents policy, you may find that they have a small value limit for individual items and your premium will increase steeply following a claim. If you do have bike insurance, you will find that having the following to hand will help your claim progress as quickly as possible:
- Your policy number
- The date of the theft
- The police crime reference number (from when you reported the stolen bike)
- Evidence of ownership (sales receipt, a bank statement that included the purchase, or any other evidence which shows the details of the date you bought the bike, the price paid, a description of the bike and any accessories that were also stolen)
- Photographs of the bike
- Any damaged items or locks left behind
Related: How to lock your bike securely (with expert tips)
4. Get the word out
Once you’ve reported the stolen bike to the police and your insurer, it’s time to get the word out. The more people who are aware of your stolen bike, the higher the chances someone will spot it or provide helpful information.
Post about your stolen bicycle on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Include photos of your bike and a summary of the time and circumstances in which it was taken, and relevant hashtags or key terms like #stolenbike, #biketheft, or even #stolenManchester to increase visibility.
Consider using local Facebook groups like ‘Lost & Found in X area’ to raise awareness. In some cases, you might even catch the thief in the act of trying to sell it on.
You can also sign up to Bike Register to list your bike as stolen and reach a larger audience.
5. What happens if you don’t have bike insurance
As previously mentioned, if your bicycle was stolen from inside your home then your household contents insurance may cover it, but that will be down to your individual policy details, and you will need to check with your insurer to find out if you’re covered.
Many cyclists choose to take out specialist cycle insurance as it can cover your bicycle wherever it goes, subject to using an approved lock.
For those without insurance, unless the bike can be recovered by the police (and in a condition still safe to ride), cyclists are generally left high and dry until they can afford a replacement.
Those at the more entry-level end of the scale may be able to chalk this off as a very annoying, expensive and inconvenient experience, but at the other extreme, some cycling equipment can be worth up to tens of thousands of pounds.
With no specialist insurance, a bike which is stolen from a public place, a communal area or a vehicle simply will not be covered and there will be no chance of recouping the cost of the cycling equipment.
Related: What is a hybrid bike?
6. Always report the theft
It’s a common misconception that reporting stolen bicycles to the police is a waste of time if yours isn’t insured.
However, when bikes are recovered without a matching stolen bike report there is no chance of them being returned to their rightful owner. At least if you file a report and ensure that the relevant authorities are aware of the bike theft, there is a chance that your property might be returned.
We spoke to PC Honey, who wants to encourage all victims of cycle crime to report the offence, for the benefit of all cyclists in the future:
“In the past, cycle crime has not been taken very seriously, but that has changed in recent years. Police are seeing more organisation around the theft and sale of bikes and people are making big money from it.
Police Yards are generally filled with recovered bikes but sadly most people do not know their frame numbers or any identifiers and so these cycles are never paired up with a victim.
Reporting thefts, even if you believe you will never see your bike again, is very important. Unless crimes are reported, it will never reflect in the crime figures and hence not be seen as a big a problem as it is. Crimes can only be dealt with and measured if they are being reported in the first place.”
If more stolen bicycles are reported to the authorities, there will be a clearer picture of the real scale of the problem, and a greater chance that these types of crime will move up the priority list.
Specialist bike insurance through Cycleplan
Now you know how to report a stolen bike, you may want to consider specialist bicycle insurance to avoid having to cover any replacement costs if you’re ever a victim of bike theft.
You can get an instant online quote now and benefit from up to £30k of cover for theft, loss, or damage to your bike.
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