Discerning Cyclist provides a comprehensive overview of global and national bike theft statistics, highlighting the prevalence and underreporting of bike theft worldwide. The site presents data from police, insurers, and security companies, noting that millions of bikes are stolen annually, with only a fraction reported. Key findings include low prosecution rates (1% in the UK), high rates of unlocked bikes stolen, and the impact of theft on cycling participation. The article details theft rates by country and city, the economic cost of theft, and the effectiveness of prevention measures. It emphasizes the importance of locks, registration, and secure parking, and notes that theft spikes during periods of increased cycling, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The resource serves as a guide for cyclists and policymakers to understand the scale of bike theft and adopt effective prevention strategies[1][2].
