Editorial commentary
Bicycle theft has been one of the most frustrating everyday crimes in Germany for decades. The situation seems paradoxical: social media is awash with reports of stolen e-MTBs, gravel bikes and e-bikes worth several thousand euros. At the same time, official figures show that the number of reported bicycle thefts has actually been falling over the long term.
Thieves appear to be striking less frequently than before – but their thefts are more targeted. The bikes stolen today are significantly more valuable than the trekking or city bikes of 20 years ago. For owners of high-quality bikes, this means that the individual risk of suffering significant financial loss has increased, even though the overall number of cases is falling.
The long-term trend: case numbers are falling
Anyone looking at police crime statistics over a longer period will see a clear trend: whilst bicycle theft remains a widespread phenomenon, the number of reported cases is now significantly lower than the peak figures of the 2000s and early 2010s. According to police crime statistics, around 246,600 bicycle thefts were recorded in 2024. Compared with 2023, this represents a fall of around 6.9 per cent. In 2025, the figure stood at just around 214,000 bicycles reported as stolen.
By way of comparison: in 2005, the police recorded almost 400,000 bicycle thefts. This confirms a long-term trend: the number of stolen bicycles is generally falling, even though there are fluctuations from year to year.
Why are theft figures falling?
There is no single cause. Rather, it is the result of a combination of several factors:
1. Better bike locks
Twenty years ago, simple coiled cable locks were often sufficient for security. Today, many cyclists opt for sturdy U-locks, folding locks or chain locks. These products have become more robust and make it considerably more difficult to steal a bike on the spur of the moment. In the case of bike leasing, high-quality locks within specific price ranges are even mandatory.
2. GPS tracking and digital technology
More and more high-quality bikes are being fitted with GPS trackers. In the e-bike sector in particular, manufacturers now offer integrated tracking systems. Experts see this as a possible factor behind the recent decline in the number of cases.
3. Bicycle marking and registration
The police, the ADFC and retailers have been offering bicycle marking services for years. This makes stolen bikes harder to sell and makes it easier to trace them back to their owners.
4. More targeted perpetrator networks
According to the insurance industry, the perpetrators’ strategy has also changed. Instead of stealing bicycles at random, many thieves now focus on particularly valuable models.
The real story lies in the value of the loot
Whilst the number of cases is falling, the cost of claims is rising to record levels. The German Insurance Association (GDV) reports around 135,000 insured bicycle thefts for 2024 – 10,000 fewer than in the previous year. Nevertheless, insurers had to pay out around 160 million euros. This is the highest figure in the past 20 years.
The trend in average claims is particularly striking. The figure has more than tripled over the course of two decades.
- around 20 years ago: around 390 euros per stolen bicycle
- 2020: around 780 euros
- 2022: around 970 euros
- 2023: around 1,100 euros
- 2024: around 1,190 euros
The e-bike is changing everything
The main driver behind this trend is the e-bike. According to the GDV, thieves are increasingly targeting high-end e-bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes and gravel bikes. At the same time, purchase prices have risen sharply. A new e-bike recently cost an average of around 2,650 euros.
For organised gangs of thieves, the effort is therefore well worth it, much more so than in the past. High-quality bikes can be dismantled, exported or resold on online platforms abroad.
Are there more or fewer thefts being reported these days?
The answer is: it is likely that more thefts are officially reported today than they were 20 years ago. The main reason for this is the growth of the insurance market. Around 27 million households have home contents insurance, about half of which includes cover for bicycles. Anyone wishing to receive compensation usually needs to file a police report.
Nevertheless, the number of unreported cases remains high. The GDV expressly points out that many thefts are still not reported. Owners often choose not to go to the police, particularly in the case of older or less valuable bikes. However, there are no reliable statistics on the reporting rate. Experts therefore assume that there remains a considerable number of unreported cases, both by the police and by insurance companies.
The clearance rate remains disappointing
Despite digital tools, bicycle theft remains one of the offences with the lowest clearance rate. According to crime statistics, just under 24,000 cases were solved in 2024 – that is less than ten per cent of all recorded bicycle thefts. For owners of high-value bikes, this means that prevention remains more important than hoping for the bike to be recovered later.
Stefan Frey
Editor