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Online Bike Crime Rife Says LCC

Posted: 4th May 2010 | Source: London Cycling Campaign

1 in 6 cyclists has recognised a stolen bicycle for sale online, LCC survey reveals

Bike theft is a massive problem in the capital, and website sales are a major part of the problem, according to a London Cycling Campaign survey of cyclists, which coincides with the launch of a major anti-theft campaign 'Beat The Thief'.

The survey reveals the staggering fact that one in six cyclists says they've recognised a stolen bike on a website such as Gumtree and eBay, with two-thirds of these naming Gumtree as the site in question.

Mike Cavenett, LCC communications officer, said: "Internet sales of stolen bikes are out of control. Imagine if this was stolen cars we were talking about? Something needs to be done about this theft epidemic."

A massive 80% of cyclists say they've had at least one bike stolen, with one in ten people saying they've lost four or more bikes to thieves. Over 90% of people report never having had any of their stolen bikes recovered. 70% of people claimed the police made only a token effort to get their bike back.

Two-thirds of cyclists report that they use their bike less often because of the risk of it being stolen - a factor that may severely damage the Mayor of London's targets for increasing cycling unless theft is tackled.

For more information on the LCC and its campaigns go here: www.lcc.org.uk