"The British Transport Police (BTP) has said it will not investigate bike thefts outside stations where the bicycle has been left for more than two hours, in an effort to conserve police resources. Critics of the move have labelled bike theft as "decriminalised", with thieves now facing less scrutiny from police. The London Bike Theft Report from London Criminal Solicitors Lawtons urges bike owners to take preventative measures to safeguard their property against theft."
"According to the report, the most common time of day for a bike to be stolen is during the afternoon, with 29% of thefts happening at this time, followed by the night (27%). Bikes are much safer when stored in private sheds or storage units, however, this does not make them exempt from theft. 40% of bicycle thefts in the latest period were taken from 'semi-private' premises, which include the outside areas of people's homes, as well as garages or car parks."
"Use a lock. Less than half of the people who had a bicycle stolen in FY2024 said their bike was locked at the time of the crime, with many believing that it was a safe area, so a lock wouldn't be necessary. If possible, store your bike indoors or in a shed or garage. Register your bicycle with BikeRegister. While registering your bicycle won't prevent it from being stolen, it increases your chances of being reunited with your bicycle in the event of a theft."
The British Transport Police will not investigate bike thefts outside stations where a bicycle has been left for more than two hours to conserve resources. Critics say the policy effectively decriminalises bike theft and leaves offenders facing less scrutiny. The most common time for bicycle theft is the afternoon (29%), followed by night (27%). Bikes are safer in private sheds or storage units, yet 40% of thefts came from semi-private premises such as outside home areas, garages or car parks. Fewer than half of stolen bikes were locked in FY2024. Recommended precautions include using a lock, indoor storage, BikeRegister registration and security marking. Hackney recorded 1,363 thefts in the year ending April 2025, 4.8 per 1,000 population, nearly triple the London average of 1.7.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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