Bicycle Theft

Each year, the FBI releases the United States Uniform Crime Report. This report contains information on all types of crime committed in the United States. One of its categories, larceny/theft, is where bicycle theft fits in. Larceny/theft is defined as “unlawfully taking, carrying, leading, or riding away the possession or constructive possession of another.” The latest statistics on bicycle theft are from 1994.

While the national incidence of larceny/theft was down an average of 14% in 1994, bike theft was, unfortunately, up 10%. What this means is that more thieves are stealing bikes than before.

The FBI, they admit, conservatively estimates that 500,000 bike theft incidents occur each year. The National Bike Registry estimates that the number of bikes stolen each year is over 1 million. The average value of bikes stolen is $252. By the FBI’s estimate, that puts the value of the stolen bikes at $126 million. By the National Bike Registry’s estimate, the value of the stolen property comes to $252 million each year.

From 1990 to 1991, there was a significant increase in the number of bikes stolen. The same was said for 1993 to 1994. Regardless of the actual number of thefts, the incidence of bike theft is rising. This problem exists on a national scale and is a problem. To combat this, a bike owner must take forceful steps to protect their bike.

If you would like to know how to protect your bike from bike thieves in the area, contact the bike lock and bike security experts of A & Js’ Bike Locks at 708-460-2999.