Bike Theft Info Sheet

Between 2007 and 2012, nearly 11,000 bikes were reported stolen in Philadelphia. But research from
other cities suggests that bike thefts are actually much higher. A 1991 survey by Transportation
Alternatives found that 1 in 4 of the respondents reported a stolen bike. There are no official numbers of
bikes recovered by police in Philadelphia but the chances of getting your bike back is low. And when
thieves are caught the crime is often treated as petty theft with light sentences.

Freely available bike theft data for Philadelphia is not currently available from the ​Open Data Philly PPD
data​. Bicycle thefts are lumped in with all larceny thefts.

Bike Thefts in Philadelphia went up 18 percent from to 2007 - 2012

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia ​bicyclecoalition.org

Data Sources
Problem Oriented Guide for Police - Guide 52 Bike Theft
Bike Theft Presentation 2010 – 2013​ ​(Gregory Kaminski, Open Data Philly Visualization Winner)
2012 AZAVEA SUMMER OF MAPS Report ​- ​On Bike Theft and Crashes
2007 to 2012 Philadelphia Bike Theft Data (georeferenced .csv file)
In 2010 Bicycle Theft was ​3.3% of all Larceny-Theft crimes​ in the United States
Philadelphia Police Raw Crime Data 2006 to Present

Prevention and Recovery Tips

● Storing your bike indoors and locking your bike properly are your best weapons against bike
theft.
● If locking to a street sign or pole, make sure it is secure in the ground and a thief cannot lift your
bike up and over.
● Look online for reviews of best bike locks.
● Consider using two different type locks (e.g. Ulock and combination chain lock), which requires
thieves to carry extra tools
● Bicycle Coalition Page on Locking and Theft

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia ​bicyclecoalition.org

Philadelphia Police Registry

There is currently no active, citywide police bike registration database. However, you may be able
register your bike locally by contacting your Police District community relations officer. The 6th District
has its ​own bike registration page​.

University Registration Programs

Students, faculty, and staff at ​UPenn​, ​Drexel​ and ​Temple University​ can register their bikes through their
campus safety departments.

National Bike Registration Service

The National Bike Registry and ​529 Bikes Garage​ have merged and allow you to register your bicycle by
serial number in their national database. Law enforcement anywhere can access the database if the
bicycle is recovered. ​Nationalbikeregistry.org​ or ​https://project529.com/garage/

Philadelphia Stolen Bikes Facebook Page

Bike theft victims and opponents have organized using social media. This ​Facebook group​ has more than
5,000 members; they report stolen bikes and suspicious Craigslist ads selling bikes, share tips on
avoiding theft, and commiserate. Several stories of successful bike recoveries have emerged from
cooperation stemming from this page.

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia ​bicyclecoalition.org