Only 1% of London bike thieves identified

ONLY 1% of London bike thefts in the last 12 months resulted in a charge or caution, according to Metropolitan Police data.

More than 18,800 thefts were reported between November 2021 and October 2022, but only 206 sanctions were recorded.

London Cycling Campaign said it was “not good for the city” and would “deter people from cycling”.

Hackney, Southwark and Tower Hamlets recorded the most thefts over the last 12 months, although across the capital the total number of bikes reported stolen was down 18% compared with the previous year.

In Croydon and Havering, no offenders were identified despite a combined 325 offences.

Tom Bogdanowicz, senior policy officer at London Cycling Campaign, said the true number of crimes was “significantly higher” than the reported figures.

He said up to a quarter of bike theft victims never cycle again.

“It’s not good for the city, because if there’s less cycling then there are more emissions from cars, more congestion, and people’s health isn’t improving.

“Building cycling infrastructure is an excellent way of encouraging cycling, but if people have their bikes stolen then you lose customers.”