It’s every rider’s nightmare – you come out of work, only to find that your beloved bike is not where you locked it up. In fact, it’s nowhere to be seen at all! The sinking feeling hits you like a ton of bricks and you’re left wondering, “What do I do now?”.
Over 50,000 stolen bikes were reported in 2024 in the UK. If you’ve fallen victim to a bicycle theft, we have your back with five practical steps to take.
Six things to do when your bike gets stolen
Keep calm and don’t panic
First things first, try to stay calm which. is easier said than done. Losing your bike can be really frustrating, but panicking won’t help the situation. Take a deep breath and let’s get started on doing the right things in order to get a good chance at getting it back.
Report your stolen bike
Time is of the essence when it comes to reporting a stolen bike. Contact your local police station and file a theft report. Make sure to provide as much detail as possible about your bicycle, including its make, model, colour, value and any unique identifying features. If you have the serial number, provide that too – it can greatly increase the chances of recovering it.
Spread the word
Share the news of your stolen bike on social media like local Facebook Groups and Instagram Stories and encourage people to share your post. The more people who know about it, the higher the chance someone might spot it and alert you or the police. You should also report your stolen bike on any online lost bike databases, although Stolen Bikes which used to be a go to has now closed for new registrations.
Check online marketplaces
Sadly, stolen bikes often end up being transported across the country to be sold online. Keep an eye on websites like eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes thieves aren’t very imaginative about where they sell their loot.
Contact Local Bike Shops
If you have the time, you could reach out to bike shops in your area and inform them about your stolen bike. Provide them with a description and ask them to keep an eye out for anyone trying to sell a similar bike.
This brings us to a crucial point – having the right insurance for your bicycle before it’s stolen.
Check what insurance you have and get in touch
If you’re a regular cyclist, it’s essential to protect your bicycle, just like you would your car. With the right insurance coverage, you can have peace of mind knowing that if the worst does happen, you’re financially covered. If your bike is stolen and you have correctly adhered to the policy requirements including the locking requirements, you should get in touch and make a claim.
Insurance is a good option to financially protect yourself in the event a theft happens.
If your bike has been stolen and you are without insurance, hopefully the other tips will help you retrieve it. And make sure to consider Bikmo Cycle Insurance if you are able to retrieve it this time, or purchase another bike.
How to prevent or mitigate bike theft
There are many options which will help you retrieve a bike or reduce the chance it is stolen. A stolen bike is heartbreaking and putting in the groundwork when you get a new bike is always worth it.
Bike marking kits
We’ve already mentioned bicycle insurance as a way to mitigate the financial loss of a stolen bike, but there are additional steps you can take. The first is with BikeRegister where you can mark and log a bike. In the event a stolen bike is found and marked, it can be easily reunited with the rightful owner. The UK police force often doing bike marking events at a local council level, so keen an eye out for what your police force is doing about bike thefts.
Trackers
There are also several ways to GPS track a bike through hidden trackers including an Apple Airtag. Bicycle thieves are getting savvy to this so it isn’t a complete failsafe, but it might be something worth investing in that might give you more peace of mind. Check out Cycling Weekly’s gps trackers review to see the pros and cons of different trackers on the market.
Bike locks
We’ve talked about good locks a lot. In fact, you need a sold secure standard lock for our insurance policies to remain valid in the event a bike is stolen whilst being locked. If you need a good lock to prevent your bike from being stolen, take a look at our D Lock bike lock guide.
