Copenhagen bike shop owner arrested as hundreds of stolen bikes found (2024)

FAQs

Is bike theft a problem in Copenhagen? ›

Just also for your info and from this morning´s paper, Berlingske Tidende, it is stated that 18,000 bikes are reported stolen every year in Copenhagen alone. That is about 50 a day!

Bicycle theft is a major issue that affects millions of Europeans. According to official police statistics, approximately 1.3 million bicycles are reported as stolen annually in the EU-27.

We already know that some cyclists don't report their stolen bicycles. We also know that even if a bike is reported, there's a slim chance the police will be able to recover it. Whoever steals your bike is then selling it either for pennies on the dollar on the street, or for near-market value online.

Although theft is a risk - almost 18,000 bicycles were stolen in the city last year - owners rarely chain their bikes to anything. Often they are just stacked one against another. "I ride an inconspicuous old bike, and I've never had it stolen so far," says student Anton Pilmark.

For those who are counting, Copenhageners cycle an estimated 1.44 million kilometres daily. 49% of all trips to work or school in Copenhagen are by bike, up from 35% just ten years ago. This recent rise in cycling over the past decade is a result of continued municipal investment.

Check ebay, Gumtree, craigslist. Check out the listings on ebay, Gumtree and craigslist. Thieves will often try to sell stolen bikes through these sites.

High-end road bikes are often the most popular target for thieves due to their high value and lightweight design. These bikes are often used for racing or long-distance rides, making them an attractive target for thieves who can easily sell them for a high price.

If the bike is locked to an insecure structure such as a small sign or tree, the thief is able to lift the bike along with its lock off of the structure. A thief may use a bolt cutter, hacksaw, or angle grinder to cut through the bicycle lock. A thief may pick a lock that has a keyhole.

Thankfully, over half of the stolen bikes are usually recovered by the police. The only reason why only 5% of the stolen bikes are returned is that the owners of the bikes cannot be traced by the police. If you report the police will also get an actual picture of your stolen bike.

Report your bike stolen to the police

Make sure you report as much information about the bike as you can, including unique identifying features. The local police have a good handle on the area and may be able to trace your bike within minutes. It's not uncommon for the police to spot the thief riding your bike.

Do police care about bike theft? ›

In Los Angeles and virtually every city in North America, bicycle theft has almost become a crime without consequence, so widespread that it is treated less as a problem and more like one of the costs of urban life.

The top 10 motorcycle manufactures most frequently stolen in 2021 accounted for 78% of all stolen motorcycles in 2021. Leading the pack was Honda (10,282), Yamaha (8,185), Kawasaki (5,904), Harley-Davidson (5,811), and Suzuki (4,890).

The cities with the highest bike crime in the US include (somewhat predictably), New York and San Francisco!

1. Bakersfield, California. Topping the list of worst cities for car thieves for the second year in a row is Bakersfield, California. It has the highest car theft rate per 100,000 people, with 905.41 thefts.

The Danish VIN- system makes it possible to check whether a bicycle has been reported stolen. Many countries are plagued by bike theft and Denmark is no exception.

In Copenhagen, Denmark where bike riding and bike theft is very common, the police does little about it. In fact it came out recently that the police have an unofficial policy of not investigating thefts of value less than 13.000 euros due to "lack of resources".

If you take a closer look, you'll see that most bikes have a self-locking mechanism on the back wheel. If you want to be extra shrewd, you can chain the frame or the front wheel to something. Leaving a bike unlocked in Copenhagen is an invitation to have it stolen.

Most offenses in the city are petty in nature. The most common crimes people worry about are petty offenses such as drug abuse, vandalism, and non-violent theft. These are also the crimes that you are most likely to witness or experience during your visit. Copenhagen does experience some violent crime.