Bike stolen in France: police report, registration and listings

Retrace editorial team · Sources checked on 28 October 2026

Report the theft, keep your evidence and update the bike’s status with its marking operator. You can watch listings in parallel.

Where to report a bike theft in France

The official Plainte en ligne service accepts certain property offences where the offender is unknown. Check its conditions before starting. Filing a complaint is free.

You can also visit a police station or gendarmerie. If a listing is already online, give its link and your evidence to the police promptly. Retrace does not file the report for you.

What to prepare

Gather the invoice or other available records, serial number, registration number, photos and circumstances of the theft. Keep the receipt and police report reference.

Use the theft checklist to bring these details together. Without an invoice, start with other documents and identifying details.

Is the bike registered?

Sign in to your marking operator’s account to update the bike’s status and your contact details. APIC explains the stolen or lost status. Updating the register does not replace a police report.

If the bike is insured, check your policy and notify the insurer promptly. See bike theft and insurance in France.

Where to watch listings

In France, Retrace’s published coverage includes Leboncoin, Facebook Marketplace, Troc-Vélo and Buycycle. Check the covered sites and their limits before starting a search.

Retrace compares your bike photos with accessible listings on covered platforms. It cannot access private groups, private messages or every listing. An alert is a lead to check, not a confirmed identification.

The Leboncoin guide shows useful details for comparing photos. Keep the evidence and follow police instructions. Retrace does not contact sellers or recover bikes.

Official sources

Ma Sécurité, online complaints, APIC, bike status and Service Public, reporting theft to a home insurer.