The number of bikes being stolen in London could be almost three times higher than official figures suggest, according to a hard-hitting new report.
As many as 40,000 bikes a year are though to be stolen in the capital once thousands of unreported thefts and the number taken in burglaries is included, according to the London Cycling Campaign.
A survey of almost 2,000 LCC members found that 74 per cent had had a bike stolen or knew this had happened to a member of their household– despite most having locked their bikes with high-grade locks.
The report warned that under-reporting of bike theft was “significant” and that only two per cent of stolen cycles were recovered. It said there was an “ongoing crime epidemic” of bike theft in London.
Many survey respondents claimed that police quickly closed cases after they reported their bike had been stolen. A total of 79 per cent said the police took no action or no action beyond contacting them.
Of those who had experienced cycle theft, nearly 90 per cent said their bike was never recovered despite 72 per cent reporting it to police.
A total of 14,397 bike thefts were reported to the Metropolitan police between February last year and the end of January, according to the Met’s crime data “dashboard”.
This is broadly similar to the 14,629 bike thefts reported to the Met and 248 reported to the City of London police in the year to last September, as reported in the most recent Office for National Statistics crime figures.
According to the ONS, bike theft in London has fallen nine per cent year on year.
But there are more than 33,000 residential burglaries in the capital each year – and bikes are among the items taken in about a quarter of cases.
In addition, hundreds of bikes are thought to be taken each year in bike muggings, including when cyclists are robbed of high-value bikes.
The LCC wants the Met to improve its data gathering to include violent “bike-jackings”, burglary involving cycles, the geographical distribution of all cycle theft, gang activity and the use of online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay to sell stolen bikes.
It wants a mandatory nationwide marking and registration scheme, so that every sale of a cycle, new or used, is tied to an individual. France already has such a scheme.
According to the latest Met data, most bike thefts were reported in Hackney (1,242 in the 12 months to January), followed by Southwark (1,096), Tower Hamlets (1,095) and Westminster (977).
The LCC believes the apparent reduction in cycle thefts is a direct consequence of Londoners seeing no point in reporting the crime to police.
It says bike theft often leads to people cycling less or to giving up altogether.
One response to the LCC survey said: “Reported, have the person on CCTV, yet the police did nothing. Not important to them, but it meant the world to me.”
Another person said: “I received a letter from the police that was dated the same day as the theft saying they were closing the investigation due to a lack of evidence. They hadn't even requested CCTV.”
Tom Fyans, chief executive of London Cycling Campaign, said: “London’s bike thieves know they face virtually no likely repercussions – yet behind every one of the tens of thousands of cycles stolen in London each year there’s a story of someone losing a precious bike, losing their chance to get around London healthily, and for many that means an end to them cycling.
“The Met are letting Londoners who cycle down badly – we’ve got a plan for how they can do better.”
The LCC wants London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to commit to “a 10 per cent cut in cycle theft each year” and to reinstate a cycle theft task force that was introduced by his predecessor Boris Johnson in 2010 before being disbanded.
Jon Maisey, of Kryptonite Bicycle Security, which sponsored the report, said: “Cycle theft in London is prolific and that represents a real issue. The good news is LCC’s Broken Locks, Broken Promises report represents a clear path forward to beat the thieves.”
A spokesperson for the Met said: “We recognise the significant impact bike theft has on victims – from financial loss to the disruption and inconvenience it causes to everyday life.
“As part of a New Met for London: Phase 2, we are continuing to crack down on neighbourhood crimes that most affect our town centres and high streets. Since last April, theft across London has fallen by 20.2 per cent.
“We urge cyclists to take sensible precautions to protect their bikes, including security marking and registering them on the national bike registration database.
“If your bike is stolen, report it to us as soon as possible online. The sooner we know, the sooner we can act, which might stop it being sold on.”
Helen Cansick, TfL's head of healthy streets investment, said: 'We're committed to making cycling a safer and easier choice for more journeys in the capital and it's vital that as many of these journeys as possible begin and end with a safe place to park. We know that it’s distressing when someone’s bike is stolen.
“This is why we are working with London boroughs to expand secure cycle parking across London to support the growing number of people travelling by bike.
“Between April 2024 and April 2025, we have created1,673 new publicly accessible cycle parking spaces, alongside 9,979 residential and 884 school cycle parking spaces.
“We're continuing to invest in cycle parking alongside the boroughs to ensure that more Londoners have a safe, convenient place to leave their bikes at stations, schools and local destinations."
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