Do not despair as there is a chance you will get back your bike! You are certainly not alone as bike theft is a common occurrence all across the world. If you are reading this with your bike safe, awesome, you will be ready if it happens and increase your chance of getting your bike back (if possible, get yourself bicycle GPS tracker).
The most important thing is to act quickly. That is why we have prepared a complete list of activities and relevant organizations' links that might help you.
Start with general steps and later go to country-specific information to get more information.
Included: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Romania, Czechia, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
Search the area. Many bicycles are stolen spontaneously. Teenagers do that as a joke or a challenge. In such cases, the bicycles are often abandoned in the proximity. Take a walk around, especially if you left your bike unlocked or in busier public locations, such as a train station, a school, or a playground.
Teenagers mostly don’t know how to break locks and they will not deal with it. So if you see a broken lock or cut chain on the ground, it was a professional job. In this case, don't waste your time and go straight to the police department.
Report the theft as soon as possible at the local police department. Be prepared to provide them with all the details about your bike.
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The police are likely to ask the following questions, which you can prepare for in advance:
Be sure to bring the following documents with you when reporting to the police:
Do not stop after reporting the bike theft to the police! Make sure to post info about the stolen bicycle in all possible sources.
Sadly, you can not count much on the police focus on your bike. The best chance to find it, especially if you live in a small city, is to inform as many people as you can. Inform your neighbors, local cycling groups, and online community platforms about the theft. People may be able to help keep an eye out for your bike or provide you with relevant information.
Check Facebook groups and other web forums about the bike. We have collected list of some of these that you can see in the country-specific section.
Before posting information about the stolen bicycle, quickly check the lost and found groups as someone may have already found your bike and posted it online or in a group.
Be sure to add any distinguishing features of the bike to your post, or even better, a photo or a few of them. You can also leave your phone number so that you can be contacted as quickly as possible if your bike is found.
Don’t forget to monitor those groups after posting for several months. Maybe you will get some feedback on the comments.
You should also reach out to nearby bike shops and let them know about the theft. Sometimes, thieves try to sell stolen bikes to these shops. Providing them with a description and any identifiable details can be helpful. This will work extremely well if you live in a small city and if the stolen bike is a new mountain or e-bike that is more expensive to sell as complete and not in parts.
Also, an attentive shopkeeper can catch the thief at the moment of an attempted sale and report him to the police.
You can also visit flea markets and used bike stores.
But there is a high possibility that your bike will be sold out of the city.
Look on online second-hand marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, “Used bike sales” eBay, OfferUp, Gumtree, and Craigslist. All of these are fertile grounds for bike thieves. There might be some other similar platforms, so feel free to Google it.
Some of the victims publish ads on bike pages offering compensation or trying to prevent the thief's easy sale. That is usually a waste of time. To risky for a thief, and he can wait a bit longer or sell it for the parts.
If your bike has been stolen, contact us as soon as possible by calling 101 or reporting online.
Tell them your frame number, bike database number, photo and any other information and make sure you update the status in the bike database where you registered it. UK police use this database bikeregister to search for stolen bikes.
Hopefully you have at least household insurance in case your bicycle is not a high-end model. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment.
Special bike insurance is better because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is stolen, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
Forums
Facebook groups
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
List of bikes with bike ads posted on online marketplaces that you can check frequently to see if yours has been listed for sale.
It is also helpful to have a “bike passport”. Just like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the important data about your bike at hand. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
You can have your bike passport in our YourFlare app which comes with the GPS tracker and alarm BikeFlare Visio. YourFlare app not only saves all important bike data, but it will also track your bike location and send you a BikeFlare-Alarm notification if your bike will move without you near. So you could prevent bike theft.
Find YourFlare app:
When your bike gets stolen,it is good to have household insurance. Bicycles are part of your household. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment, driveway, or the area around your home.
Usually, a bicycle is insured for 1 to 5 percent of the insurable value of the household effects. If the insurable value of the household effects is 50,000 euros and the coverage is 1 percent, 500 euros can be reimbursed in the event of theft.
However, extended bicycle insurance can be added to home contents insurance, which defines a larger radius of protection against theft.
Most insurers do not offer protection at night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. if the bicycle is locked outside during that time. Special bike insurance is a better option because it provides 24-hour protection.
If the bike was stolen, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
Some of the insurance companies:
If your secured bike was stolen, you must claim the theft on your insurance after a police report.
Most insurances have an online form called “Schadenmeldung” to report the damage/loss and you will require the following documents:
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Check out websites like:
Specialized cycling forums are popular for reselling stolen bicycles. Regularly monitor them.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
It is also helpful to have a “bike passport”. Just like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the important data about your bike at hand. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle, as well as help prove your ownership.
Before your bicycle is stolen, it's best to protect it with special bicycle insurance because it provides 24-hour protection. If your bicycle is moved, your insurance will compensate you for its replacement value.
Bicycode is one way to register your bike in France. The Bicycode mark is a number engraved on the bicycle frame, which is then referenced in a database. If your registered bike is stolen, you can mark it as stolen on the base. With the tag, frame number, make, type, and color data entered into the database, the possibility of finding your bike back. Also, you can do it with Recobike.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
In France, the resale of stolen bicycles at flea markets and resale platforms. For example, the addresses of bicycle flea markets in Paris:
The most popular resale platforms in France are:
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
It is also helpful to have a “bike passport”. Just like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the important data about your bike at hand. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
You can have your bike passport in our YourFlare app which comes with the GPS tracker and alarm BikeFlare Visio. YourFlare app not only saves all important bike data, but it will also track your bike location and send you a BikeFlare-Alarm notification if your bike will move without you near. So you could prevent bike theft.
Find YourFlare app:
The theft report can be filed at the police department as well as online. In this case, the applicant must in any case contact the police in order to sign the protocol and receive a copy of it.
Household insurance can help with non high-end bikes and will cover only a part of the bicycle value.
Special bike insurance is better because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is stolen, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
Also you can use “Targa la bici" service.
This is the marking, or punching with an indelible technique, the owner's tax code to the frame of the bicycle so that if a stolen bicycle is found, its rightful owner can be easily located.
You can do it with
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Special bike insurance is the best option because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is stolen, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
BiciRegistro is one way to register your bike in Spain. The BiciRegistro mark is a number engraved on the bicycle frame, which is then referenced in a database. If your registered bike is stolen, you can mark it as stolen on the base. With the tag, frame number, make, type, and color data entered into the database, the possibility of finding your bike back. You can do it:
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Check popular online marketplaces and classified websites where stolen goods are often listed for sale. Websites like:
Regularly search for your bicycle's description and pictures.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case
Before your bike gets stolen try to get household insurance. Bicycles are part of your household contents. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if they steal the bicycle from your apartment, driveway, or the area around your home.
Special bike insurance is better because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is shifted, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
When contacting your insurance company, make sure you have the insurance policy number, the crime registration number, that you receive after you report the police, and proof of ownership or purchase on hand.
Remember, without a police report, most insurance companies will deny compensation.
Be sure to check the near area Facebook groups, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Look at websites like:
Specialized cycling forums are popular for reselling stolen bicycles. Regularly monitor them. Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
It is also helpful to have a “bike passport”. Just like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the important data about your bike at hand. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle, as well as help prove your ownership.
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You can also have your bike passport in our YourFlare app which comes with the bicycle safety GPS tracker and alarm BikeFlare Visio. YourFlare app not only stores all important bike data, but it also tracks your bike location and sends you BikeFlare-Alarm and Bike-Has-Moved notifications. So you could prevent bike theft or have an easier time finding the bike.
Find YourFlare app:
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The fastest way to report the police is Swiss online police station.
Before your bike gets stolen, try to get household insurance. Bicycles are part of your household contents. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment.
The sum insured in the event of theft from the house or the property in front of the house is usually CHF 2,000 with a deductible of CHF 200.
If the value of your bicycle is higher than your household contents insurance amount, it's worth taking out additional bicycle insurance.
Special bike insurance is better because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is shifted, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
Bicycode isone way to register your bike in Switzerland. The Bicycode mark is a number engraved on the bicycle frame, which is then referenced in a database. If your registered bike is stolen, you can mark it as stolen on the base. With the tag, frame number, make, type, and color data entered into the database, the possibility of finding your bike back increases.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Check online marketplaces and second-hand shops: Regularly monitor popular online marketplaces and second-hand shops where stolen bicycles are often resold. Websites like the ones below are commonly used in Switzerland for buying and selling goods:
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like your, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
It is also helpful to have a “bike passport”. Just like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the important data about your bike at hand. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
You can have your bike passport in our YourFlare app which comes with the GPS tracker and alarm BikeFlare Visio. YourFlare app not only saves all important bike data, but it will also track your bike location and send you a BikeFlare-Alarm notification if your bike will move without you near. So you could prevent bike theft.
Find YourFlare app:
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In Belgium, you can report the bike theft online by:
But there is a possibility that if you have parked your bike in the wrong place, the municipal inspection services have already taken your bike away.
Try searching for your bike at:
Even if it is not there, keep checking the website regularly. It may take some time for your bike to register in the database, but once your bike is in the database, you can find it on the website. An administrator will hold the bike for three months. After that, the bike becomes the property of the respective municipality.
Hopefully before the bike got stolen, you considered the insurance. Insurance will pay all or part of the cost of the stolen bicycle.
Bikebank is one way to register your bike in Belgium. If your registered bike is stolen, you can mark it as stolen on the Bikebank’s base. With the tag, frame number, make, type, and color data entered in the database, the possibility of finding your bike back increases.
Insurance options:
You can activate an alert and be notified if a similar bike is found and moved in the Brussels Depot for found bikes.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Facebook groups
Regularly monitor popular online marketplaces and classified websites such as:
Thieves often attempt to sell stolen bikes. Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Also good is to have a “bike passport”. Like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the critical data about your bike. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
If you don’t want a bike passport, at least note your frame number and photos of your bike, and have them on your phone.
Before the bike gets stolen, you should consider taking out insurance. Insurance will pay back all or part of the cost of the stolen bike.
Your bike can indeed be insured with your insurer. Most home insurance such as Home guarantees your bike against theft under certain conditions.
Having your bike marked is another way to protect your bike in Luxemburg. Stores and a growing number of brands sell bikes already registered (marked) on the frame. If your bike isn’t marked yet, you can do it :
Thieves often attempt to sell stolen bikes. Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Regularly monitor popular online marketplaces and classified websites such as:
Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Also good is to have a “bike passport”. Like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the critical data about your bike. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
If you don’t want a bike passport, at least note your frame number and photos of your bike, and have them on your phone.
Before you register the theft, first check out if your bicycle might have been taken by the municipality. Many unguarded parking lots have bicycles that the owner no longer picks up (orphaned bicycles). Municipalities regularly remove such bicycles.
The municipality keeps ownerless bicycles in a bicycle storage facility. Check your municipality's website to see if your bicycle is in this depot.
Picking up your bike at the depot costs € 22.50. If you want to have your bike delivered to your home, it costs € 35 extra.
In the Netherlands, you can report the bike theft online or you can call the general number of the police: 0900-8844.
The police can only return the bicycle to you if it has been found with a report with a frame number. If you don’t have a frame number then it is useful to report as many characteristics of the bicycle as possible.
If you have reported the theft, your bicycle will automatically be entered in the:
Before your bicycle is stolen, it's best to protect it with special bicycle insurance because it provides 24-hour protection. If your bicycle is moved, your insurance will compensate you for its replacement value. Bicycle insurance companies in the Netherlands are:
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
The most popular resale platforms in the Netherlands are:
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Also good is to have a “bike passport”. Like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the critical data about your bike. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
Before your bike gets stolen, try to get household insurance. Bicycles are part of your household contents. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment.
The insurance covers bike theft and vandalism up to DKK 15,000 per bicycle.
If you have a more expensive bicycle, we recommend raising the sum insured to DKK 170,000.
There are some preconditions for bike theft coverage:
For other bicycle insurance because it provides 24-hour protection. If your bicycle is moved, your insurance will compensate you for its replacement value.
Make sure to check the groups in your city but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular online marketplaces like
Also check local second-hand bike shops. Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Also good is to have a “bike passport”. Like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the critical data about your bike. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
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Ideally you have protected it with special bicycle insurance because it provides 24-hour protection. If your bicycle is moved, your insurance will compensate you for its replacement value.
Register your bike with Baza Rowerów (Bicycle Database), located at bazarowerow.pl by entering its serial number, taking a picture of it, and if it gets stolen, report it on the site. The site is run by the DrugaStronaMiasta company.
Other ways you can register your bike in Poland are:
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Regularly monitor popular online marketplaces and classified websites such as:
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
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When filing a theft report you have to use the following form.
Hopefully before your bike got stolen, you got yourself a household insurance. This is only possible if your bike is not a high end model. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment.
Special bike insurance is better because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is shifted, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
A good thing to have is a “bike passport”. Like a human ID, a bicycle pass allows you to always have all the critical data about your bike. You can have a cycling passport in paper form or digital. Providing the police with a passport will multiply the chances of finding your bicycle and help prove your ownership.
Household insurance can be very useful but is only possible if your bike is not a high-end model. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment.
Special bike insurance is better because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is shifted, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops and marketplaces:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Household insurance is only possible if your bike is not a high-end model. The insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Best way to protect yourself is with special bicycle insurance. It provides 24-hour protection. If your bicycle is moved, your insurance will compensate you for its replacement value. Bicycle insurance companies in Hungry are:
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case
Ideally your bike is protected with special bicycle insurance because it provides 24-hour protection. If your bicycle is moved, your insurance will compensate you for its replacement value. Bicycle insurance companies in Croatia are:
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Household insurance can help with non high-end bikes and will cover only a part of the bicycle value. Special bike insurance is better because it provides 24-hour protection. If the bike is stolen, insurance will compensate for the bike's replacement value.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
When filing a theft report, the following form must be filled out.
If your bike has been stolen, it makes sense to also look at the list of items found on the police website. Criminals can only use the bike as a means of transportation and then throw it away. Such bicycles are registered as found. If the owner cannot be determined, they are later sold at a foundry auction.
It's best to protect it with a special bicycle insurance because it provides 24-hour protection. If your bicycle is moved, your insurance will compensate you for its replacement value. Bicycle insurance companies in Slovenia are:
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Before your bike gets stolen, try to get household insurance. Bicycles are part of your household contents. This insurance allows you to get some of the money back if the bicycle is stolen from your apartment.
Be sure to check the groups in your city, but also remember to look at the groups of the nearest cities. If you live near the border, your bike may be taken out and sold in another country.
Keep an eye on popular second-hand bike shops like:
Stolen bikes are often resold through these channels.
Filter the listings on the platform by brand and model of bike. Many people have managed to find their bikes this way.
Once you find a bike that looks like you, don't text the seller yourself, report the suspicious ad to a police officer who will investigate your case.
Getting your bike stolen is a bad experience and sadly you should not expect the police to help you with all of their efforts. Rely on yourself and learn from the experience as most of the theft is prevented by being prepared and minimizing the chance of it occurring in the first place. You might just become one of many of us that learned the hard way and that is not theend of the world.
Learn more about bike theft:
The Problem of Bike Theft in Europe and the USA and Ways to Improve the Situation
Bike Theft and The Best Ways to Protect Your Bike from It
Bike Thieves and Most Common Bike Theft Areas
What Types of Bikes get Stolen Most Often
Choosing a Bicycle Tracker and Alarm
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