eBike thefts up 250% in 2 years in the UK, finds FoI request
In what might be a sign of the cash strapped times or attributable to the volume of electric bikes now in the UK (or both), eBike thefts have doubled in the UK in the space of a year.
Evolve e-bikes submitted a Freedom of Information request to every police force in the UK and found that there were 103% more eBike thefts in 2023 compared to 2022 – and an incredible 257% more than in 2021.
Bike lock stockists and brands may wish to take note of the stats, which found that thieves were increasingly targeting eBikes – overall bike thefts were actually down by 15% as criminals shifted their focus to electric assist models. 6.2% of all bike thefts now involve an eBike, up from 1.4%. In total, over 60,000 bikes were stolen in the UK in 2023, compared with 64,201 in 2022.
Also using stats from the UK Police Data hub on regular pedal bikes, the brand found that October was the peak period for bike thefts, with 6606 thefts reported across the month.
Bike shops in West Yorkshire could do with stocking more bike locks according to this top ten of eBike thefts (in 2023):
- West Yorkshire: 446 thefts (more than half of these were in Leeds)
- Avon & Somerset: 144 thefts
- North Yorkshire: 124 thefts
- Cambridgeshire: 105 thefts
- Dorset: 94 thefts
- Surrey: 86 thefts
- Kent: 52 thefts
- Warwickshire: 37 thefts
- Norfolk: 36 thefts
- Northamptonshire: 36 thefts
“It is worrying to see that eBike thefts are rising at such a rapid rate, and owners need to take the threat of increasingly clued-up thieves seriously,” said Jack Ford, evolve e-bikes (formerly known as Sigma Sports Electric) Kingston Store Manager. “I would recommend locking your bike up in a well-lit and well-populated area where possible when you are out and about. While it might be tempting to look for a secluded spot to hide your bike away in, thieves are much more likely to be deterred by areas where they might be seen.
“It is also vital for eBike owners to invest in an appropriate lock, with locks valued at around 10% of the total cost of the bike a good rule of thumb to follow.”
Bike lock brand ABUS recently teamed up with the London Cycling Campaign to help tackle thefts in the city.