Bike stolen : United Kingdom

Retrace editorial team · Sources checked on October 28, 2026

Report the theft · Registration and identifying your bike · Prepare your evidence

Report the theft

Report non-urgent theft online to the police force responsible for the location, or call 101 from within the UK. Provide the frame number, photographs and identifying details. Use the appropriate national route for England/Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Official reporting guidance

Registration and identifying your bike

If your bike already has a registration or marking record, tell that provider it was stolen and check your contact details. Registration does not replace a police report. Keep the registration identifier and the frame number separately: they can be different.

Police.uk links to BikeRegister for frame-number registration. If you already have a record, update its theft status as well as making your police report. Keep the crime reference with your ownership records. BikeRegister / Police.uk

Prepare your evidence

Gather the frame number, purchase or servicing records, old photographs, the place and time of the theft, and your police report reference. Keep the originals. Tell the police which details are unknown rather than guessing. Ask your insurer which documents and deadlines apply to your contract.

If you find a possible match

Save the original listing URL, its reference, the date, the description and photographs. Compare scratches, repairs and changed parts with your own photographs. The same model or colour is not enough to identify a bike. Give the evidence to the police with your report reference and follow their instructions. Do not confront the seller.

Sources

• www.gov.uk — Official reporting guidance
• www.police.uk — Official reporting guidance
• www.police.uk — BikeRegister / Police.uk