Stolen e-bike: frame numbers, battery and evidence
All covered countries
The bike, battery and motor can have different identifiers. Keep each number with the name of the component it belongs to.
If the whole bicycle was stolen
Look for the frame number in purchase documents, registration records, servicing paperwork or old photographs. Gather battery and motor identifiers if you have them. A battery model reference is not necessarily an individual serial number.
Describe which accessories were fitted when the bike disappeared: display, rack, child seat or bags. Record anything you had removed, too. This helps you compare photographs without requiring a listing to show the original configuration exactly.
Compare an electric-bike listing
Look at the frame, battery integration, repairs and replaced parts. The presence or absence of a charger does not prove ownership. A different saddle or display is a reason to check other details carefully.
Keep the link and available photographs. Use the comparison guide and theft checklist, then give the evidence to the police with your report reference.
If only the battery was stolen
Describe the battery theft accurately to the police and insurer. Keep its individual identifier, if known, and photographs of the bicycle and battery mount.
Retrace searches for complete bicycles on the covered marketplaces. Searching for a battery on its own is not included. Ask your insurer about the component: bicycle theft cover does not by itself establish battery cover.
If a tracker was fitted
Save the displayed location and the time of its last update. Give these to the police with your case reference and follow their instructions. The guide to GPS trackers and AirTags for bikes explains how the devices differ and which information to keep.
Prepare the reporting steps
Choose the guide for the country of theft. Insurance documents and deadlines depend on your policy; ask for the requirements and retain copies of what you send.
The Finnish police recommend keeping bicycle identifiers and photographs. The German police Fahrradpass is another example of an identification record. These resources do not replace your country’s reporting procedure.
Retrace compares your bicycle photos with listings on covered sites and alerts you to possible matches. Check coverage for your country before starting a search. Private groups and messages are not covered. Each possible match needs checking.
How it works