Bicycle theft rates around the world

Bicycle theft is common in Australia and around the world. Let’s take a look at how to stop bike theft and the importance of having bicycle theft insurance.

Bike thefts in Australia

Starting off nice and close to home, here are the top five cities in Australia for bicycle theft: 

1. Townsville, Queensland

With over 300 days of sunshine a year and a beautiful coastline to visit, it’s no wonder that so many people in Townsville enjoy going out on their bikes. However, a population of 186,734 and 150 searches for “bike theft”, “stolen bike” or “stolen bike report” give Townsville a total of 803.3 searches per million, putting it in first place for Australia.

2. Hobart, Tasmania

With the River Derwent on one side and Mount Wellington on the other, Hobart is the perfect city for bike rides. This means that it also could have a lot of bike-related crime, as a population of 232,450 and 120 total searches give Hobart an average of 516.2 searches per million  

3. Ballarat, Victoria

Ballarat is famous for its gold rush heritage, grand architecture and an exciting arts scene. But did you know that it may be a hotspot for bicycle theft too? A population of 116,390 and 60 total searches results in 515.5 searches per million. 

4. Cairns, Queensland

A tropical climate combined with a laid-back vibe surely means there will be very little bicycle theft, right? Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem like the case for Cairns, as it has a population of 160,933 and 80 total searches, giving it an average of 497.1 searches per million and placing it at number four. 

5. Geelong, Victoria

Overlooking the beautiful Corio Bay and with a lively waterfront, Geelong has magnificent vistas and a growing cultural scene. There seems to be high levels of bicycle theft here as well though, as its population of 302,046 and 130 totals searches give it an average of 430.4 per million. 

Bike thefts in the USA

Going a little further afield, here are the cities in the States that are impacted by stolen bikes the most: 

1. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Known for its vibrant arts scene and many lakes, Minneapolis blends natural beauty with urban sophistication. With a population of 425,115 and a total of 360 searches that include either “bike theft”, “stolen bike” or “stolen bike report”, Minneapolis is the number one city in America for bicycle theft with a per capita rate of 846.8 per million. 

2. Denver, Colorado

Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Denver offers a unique mix of outdoor adventure and thriving city life. This makes bikes very popular, as there’s nothing like exploring your surroundings on two wheels when the sun is shining. 

Denver has a population of 716,577 and 580 total searches, giving it an average of 809.4 searches per million and placing it as the number two US city for bicycle theft. 

3. Sacramento, California

Sacramento is California’s capital and boasts a rich history and farm-to-fork culture. Over half a million people call the city their home (526,384 residents) and there have been 370 searches relating to bicycle theft. This equates to 702.9 searches per million, making Sacramento a hotspot for bikes going missing. 

4. Portland, Oregon

A haven for artists, musicians, independent spirits and nature lovers alike, Portland is celebrated for its quirky and upbeat atmosphere. However, with a population of 630,498 and 370 searches (586.8 per million), it’s also known for its high levels of bicycle theft. 

5. Seattle, Washington

Surrounded by water, mountains and evergreen forests, Seattle is another great place to hop on your bike and discover what your local environments have to offer. The city may be known for being pretty laid back (despite all of the coffee), but it does have a lot of bicycle theft. 

With a population of 755,078 and 440 searches, Seattle has an average of 582.7 searches per million, placing it at number five in all of the US for bike theft. 

Bike thefts in Europe

Last but not least, moving across to a continent that really embraces bikes for getting from A to B, here are the top five cities in Europe for bicycle theft: 

1. Frankfurt, Germany

A global financial hub with a striking skyline, Frankfurt seamlessly blends modern business with rich cultural heritage. Unfortunately, it’s also the number one city in Europe for bicycle theft, as a population of 650,000 and 4,810 total searches give it an average of 7,400 searches per million – that’s eight times higher than Minneapolis! 

2. Düsseldorf, Germany

If you’ve visited Düsseldorf, you’ll know that it’s a stylish and sophisticated place with a thriving fashion industry and vibrant arts scene. The population of this city is 573,057, and there are 3,700 total searches relating to bicycle theft, giving it an average of 6,456.6 searches per million. 

3. Essen, Germany 

Once a centre of coal and steel, Essen has transformed into a green city that combines modern culture with a fascinating industrial legacy. A total of 593,085 people live in Essen and 3,600 total searches result in 6,070 searches for bicycle theft per million residents.  

4. Copenhagen, Denmark

With its cutting-edge urban design and hygge lifestyle, Copenhagen is a very bike-friendly city. Its population is 1,153,615 and there have been 6,310 searches in total, resulting in 5,469.8 searches per million

5. Rotterdam, Netherlands

Bold and modern, Rotterdam stands out with its innovative architecture, bustling port and dynamic energy. The Netherlands is renowned worldwide for being a cycling nation, so it also has its fair share of bicycle theft. With a population of 598,199 and 3,250 total searches, this city has 5,433 searches per million people.

How to stop bike theft

 To reduce the risk of bicycle theft, always secure your bike with a strong, high-quality lock and attach it to a fixed, immovable object, ideally in a busy and well-lit location. If you’re able to secure the bike near a CCTV camera or video doorbell, even better. You can also consider removing easily detachable components, such as the seat or front wheel, although this won’t always be possible. 

Methodology

This dataset contains three rankings. One ranks the 50 most populated cities in the US, another ranks the 50 most populated cities in Europe, and the third ranks the 20 most populated cities in Australia, based on how prevalent bike thefts are.  

To do this, three different search prompts were used. The search volumes were then summed up and the searches per 1 million population were calculated. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their searches per million. 

The search prompts used were:
– Bike theft
– Stolen bike
– Stolen bike report
All data is correct as of 28/03/25. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life. All data is accurate with regard to the sources provided. Europe search prompts were translated to the native language using DeepL. 

iSelect does not compare all home and contents insurers or policies in the market. The availability of policies may change from time to time. Not all policies available from iSelect’s providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, area or availability. Not all policies compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. A number of our participating general insurance brands are arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd ACN 003 617 909 on behalf of Auto & General Insurance Company Limited 111 586 353, both of which are related entities of iSelect Limited. Our relationship with those companies does not impact the integrity of our comparison service. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers. 

iSelect General Pty Limited ABN 90 131 798 126, AFS Licence Number: 334115. Any advice provided by iSelect is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice iSelect gives you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on iSelect’s advice or purchasing any policy. You should consider iSelect’s Financial Services Guide which provides information about our services and your rights as a client of iSelect. iSelect receives commission for each policy sold that is a percentage of the premium or a flat fee. Ask us for more details before we provide you with any services.