Bike theft continues to fall across England and Wales but ‘hotspots’ remain, says Bikmo
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
Bike thefts across England and Wales have continued their steady decline, according to new data released by cycle insurance specialist Bikmo.
The figures come alongside the launch of Bikmo’s updated Bike Theft Heatmap, a free tool designed to give cyclists access to the latest police-reported crime data, with the map showing a downward trend in bike thefts year-on-year, with 57,153 incidents recorded in 2024 – down from 64,507 in 2023 and 73,218 in 2022.
According to Bikmo, this marks “another year of progress, reinforcing a long-term downward trend in bicycle theft,” with the 12% drop from 2023 to 2024 highlighting a consistent fall in incidents.
Despite the positive overall trend, some urban areas remain hotspots. When adjusted for population, Oxford tops the list with 729 reported bike thefts per 100,000 residents, up from 688 the previous year, with Cambridge following at 660 (down from 812), then York with 445, Newcastle upon Tyne with 252, and Cardiff with 233.
Although reported thefts are decreasing, the rate at which these crimes are solved remains low, with only around 2% of cases in 2024 resulted in a suspect being charged, while roughly 89% were closed with no suspect identified.
The UK Government’s recent pledge of £291 million towards active travel infrastructure, including a £101 million allocation for national improvements, reflects a broader push to make cycling more accessible, however crime remains a barrier for many potential cyclists, especially in cities where bike use is being actively promoted.
Bikmo, which is a service partner of the ACT, sees the drop in theft numbers as encouraging but stresses that action must continue, and the company says it is investing in digital tools like the Heatmap to support cyclists with practical information on theft trends and hotspot locations.
“Bike theft is one of the biggest concerns for cyclists, and we believe that by providing free access to local crime data, we can help riders make smarter decisions,” said David George, CEO of Bikmo. “Tools like our Bike Theft Heatmap empower the cycling community with information to avoid hotspots and reduce the risk of theft.”
Titus Halliwell, National Police Lead for Cycle Crime, echoed this collaborative approach. “It is promising to see continued reductions in cycle crime across the UK, supporting the growth in cycling. Our local partnerships are focusing efforts where they are most needed and cyclists can further reduce their risk by locking their bikes securely and registering them with BikeRegister.”