New data shows Cardiff is one of the UK's worst cities for the number and rate of reported bike thefts. Cardiff ranked second-highest among UK cities for the number of incidents, with a 10% increase between 2022 and 2023.
According to police statistics, 1,398 incidents were reported in the capital in 2023 compared to 1,272 in 2022, second only to London. Cardiff is fifth in the UK for the rate of reported thefts (below Cambridge, Oxford, York and Newcastle upon Tyne) with 312 per 100,000 people against a national average of 19 per 100,000 people.
The numbers were analysed by specialist cycling insurer Bikmo, with the company also offering an interactive map where riders can view reported thefts for 2023 on an interactive heatmap. The tool shows hotspots near Cardiff Central station and along Castle Street and Queen Street as well as other parts of the city centre.
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David George, founder and CEO of Bikmo, said: "At Bikmo, our mission is to safeguard cyclists worldwide, and we prioritise proactive measures. Not only do we aim to assist riders in reclaiming their stolen bikes, but we also strive to educate our customers and community about local risks and effective mitigation strategies, ensuring they can continue to enjoy their rides safely.
“The Bike Theft Map plays a crucial role in this mission and I'm proud that we're committed to investing in this valuable tool, which has garnered popularity among our customers, riders nationwide and even law enforcement agencies in the UK."
A South Wales Police spokesperson said: "Having your bike stolen is upsetting, costly and an inconvenience. We continue to work with the public by giving out crime prevention advice and offering bike marking services as a preventative tool.
"For example, there [was] a free bike marking event at Cardiff University's Queens Building, [Tuesday, May 14] from 10am to 2pm and last month we held an event at Brunel House (pic attached). We will be running more of these sessions over the next few months too, so keep an eye on our Facebook page for dates and locations.
"There are other practical tips to help keep your bike safe and out of the hands of thieves. The most important thing to remember is, double lock your bike and register the frame number.
"Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target. Use two quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock. Please visit our website for more crime prevention advice." You can find the relevant section of SWP's website here.
The top five cities for the number of reported bike theft incidents in 2023 (not accounting for population) are:
- City of London - 16,716 reported incidents
- Cardiff - 1,398 reported incidents
- Cambridge - 1,286 reported incidence
- Bristol - 1,261 reported incidents
- Oxford - 1,179 reported incidents
The Metropolitan Police's Titus Halliwell, national police lead for cycle theft reduction, said: "It is promising to see the continued reductions in cycle crime recorded across the UK which has helped support the continuing growth in cycle journey numbers. The mapping of this data helps cyclists make choices about the security of their bicycles both at home and in the public space.
"I encourage all cyclists to use at least one quality Sold Secure when leaving their bike unattended and registering their bike on a Secure By Designed accredited database such as BikeRegister which will act as a strong deterrent to thieves and maximise the chances of their bike being returned if stolen.
"Sadly, local hotspots continue to occur and here we are focusing our work with the creation of localised Cycle Crime Reduction Partnerships to address this crime type in towns and cities across the UK supporting and working with our cycling communities."
