Cycle thieves in the UK are almost guaranteed to get away with their crime. An investigation by The Daily Telegraph has found that in 87 per cent of cases, no suspect is identified or charged.
Without GPS trackers it’s almost impossible to detect bicycle theft, which is why the police give so little priority to the crime. That was the conclusion of ANWB, The Dutch Touring Club, after providing its cycle insurance policy holders with GPS trackers.
They found that thieves often placed stolen bikes into storage in case they were equipped with tracking technology. However, that didn’t prevent six out of ten stolen bicycles being recovered over the course of two years.
Cycle theft is a low priority for police because it’s a crime that’s hard to solve
The trackers were attached to the bicycles with an industrial adhesive and intended to be highly visible. According to ANWB, which has has around 60,000 bicycles now equipped with a tracker: “The bicycles are not attractive to the casual thief.”
Working closely with a security firm, when the insurer locates a stolen bicycle and the frame number tallies, the bike is seized on the spot and returned to its owner. If the bicycle is on private property, the police are called in.
Here in the UK, trackers don’t do away with the need for a good cycle insurance redundant – not least because there’s absolutely no guarantee the police will use tracking information you give them in order to actually recover your stolen bicycle.
Win an Apple AirTag and bike mount kit
We have an Apple AirTag and bike mount kit to give away. To be in with a chance of winning the AirTag, simply leave us a message at the bottom of the page and we’ll pick a winner next week.
The mounting kit fits standard 64mm bottle cage holes, but the anti-shake and water-repellant design can also be hidden away underneath the seat.
The bike mount allows you to mount your AirTag securely and discreetly
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Jamie
Yes please. I’d love to have this tech available to me.
John Davidson
Yes it would be great to have one of these for my ebike
Paul U
Yes please – I’ve tried proper bike trackers before but they didn’t fit my bike
Elliott Francesca
In our retirement but soon moving from leafy layed back Wiltshire to the buzzing city of Nottingham so would find this and your bike insurance really helpful
Sam
This would be really handy – still gutted that I had my bike stolen, found it for sale on Facebook, pointed the police to the guy’s address and they still couldn’t help.
Jennyve Salvato
Yay!!!! I like it 🙂
Aisling
My boyfriend and I were just talking about bike trackers, and questioning why they weren’t more of a thing!! Would love to give this to him 🙂
Matthew Prior
An AirTag will definitely make me feel more confident leaving my bike locked up in a town centre!
Stephen
Anything to frustrate the malicious cycle thieves has my interest!
Mark Pearce
My apple sheghlaili and I will show up to recover my bike🤡
Craig
Almost all cyclists have a story about bike thieves…..so sad. Perhaps the greater use of technology like this will help everyone get on top of it?
Do you remember in the 1980s when vehicle radio theft was commonplace, but nowadays it’s sorted!
Alistair Leith
I you don’t get off your bike they can never take it ! (joke)
Janet
I have wanted one of these for ages!
Vincent
One of these would be handy. Not only would I be able to track my bike if it was stolen, but my wife would be able to track me!
Les Gunbie
Tag -e-a-Leslie!
Andrew Smith
Great use of technology
Sharon Merredew
You know what they say – An Apple a day keeps the bike thief away 😉
Linda Brown
Wow what a super neat gadget, perfect to keep your bike safe…. yes please 😉
Steve
I’m amazed the DT’s figure was only 87 per cent and suspect the reality is much closer to 100%. This technology starts to solve the problem.
Keith
Yes please, it’s a steal!
Geoff
I would love an heir tag to ensure that correct person inherits my bicycle.
Nick Weeks
Having had my previous e-bike stolen, I’d really like one of these to help protect the current one.
Janet Palmer
Sounds like a great idea!
Molly
Yes please – would love a airtag
Bryn Jones
How wonderful!
Paul Magnall
One of these AirTags would be fan-tag-stic!
Paul
Yes please! Also, did ANWB produce a report on this and – if yes – could you share it?
Huw
We live in the No1 UK cycle theft hotspot and had several bikes stolen. Definitely very useful.
Pamela
Help to keep my bike safer – yes please
Mark B
This would be great!
Annie
I’d really love to win this. It’s such a great idea.
Gavin Wright
#GoodIdea
jeniya marsh
I’d literally been thinking of attaching an air tag to my bike last week.
Keith Bradshaw
Awesome idea – how about a reduced insurance policy if your bike is tagged?!
Bill Day
I’ve tried a fancy tracker, but the sophistication exceeds the capability and I’m inundated with false messages. This looks much more sound and I’d love to have one.
Alastair
Would love to give one of these a try.
Elizabeth Kerr
Great idea!
Deep
Great idea!
Moragh Buchan
i would anything that would make my bike more secure & easier to trace, please.
Karen Beaumont
Tag my bike and track my movements so useful for him to get my dinner on the table as I get home!
Leon Xavier Finch
I live in Oxford, a small city with nearly 1000 reported bike thefts in the last 5 months. I need this kind of help!!
John
Yes please, I soooooo want one of these
Rhodri
Would be good to have one of these now I’m commuting into Bristol by bike!
Phil
I hope I’d never need to use it, but a bike tracker? Yes please!
Rory harkins
Really good idea!
Sam
My air tag was stolen and by the time I tracked it, it was at a recycling centre under a ton of other stuff. A replacement would be appreciated!
Vicki Soul
Oh yes please!! 🙂
Martin Ross
I’d love one thanks,
Martin
Gavin
Awaiting delivery of Apple Airtag, then spotted this article, hadn’t even thought of it for the bike but now I realise I need one in my life !
James Randall
Oxford is so bad for cycle theft! One of these would definitely help ease my mind a little…
Lisa Sharratt
That Air Tag would go really well with the bell that I hope to get an email about later AND it will match my phone 🤣😂🤣
Graham Corfield
Would love this air tag, looks like I can tag whichever bike Im out on!! Super!!
Alan Fletcher
Great little piece of kit.
Judith Rout
Great idea but need the insurance companies in the UK to act too and seize the bike!
Richard
With one of these I might not have to keep my bike in the bedroom overnight!
Richard
Yes please
Colin
thumbs up from me
Mags
But does it need a monthly sub to Apple to use it?
Rachel
Yes please for my ebike
Tommy Knowland
Really handy for tracing my bike … or my apples
Robert
GRATIA is an anagram of AirTag and DEI GRATIA, you’ll send it to me!
james Turnbull
good
But i just wish there was one standard way to track stolen bikes.
mobile phone thefts were common, but not once a way was found to make then useless to thieves it stopped
Andornino Federico
This looks brilliant!
Olly
This tag could be a drag for a thief. Yes please!
Kevin Goodall
Yes please. Can you attach it to glasses too as I’m always misplacing mine.
Bazza
Not sure I’d leave my precious bike unattended even with this, but every deterrent helps.
CliveProbert
Smart technology.
Steve
It’s a steal!
Peter Clark
I had my favourite bike stolen in 2015 and it still hurts. It wasn’t my best bike but it was the first one I got when I got back into cycling. I’d had it since 2002 and was incredibly attached to it. What I’d give to have the means of tracking it down. I think if I don’t win the prize I might ask for this for Christmas
Chris Bromwich
Looks really useful and I could certainly use one but does that mean I would need an apple phone!!
John
hope I win this
SUE
this will be useful to go along with my ETA breakdown cover
Judith
Wow that looks fantastic!!!! 🤞
Pam Jibson
I would love an Apple AirTag…beats chaining my bike to my ankle!
Martin Baker
Would deffo like one of these for my Fairlight.
Sarah
What a brilliant piece of kit
Dave Brabants
The extra weight shouldn’t be too noticable on my electric tandem
Phil
I bought an AirTag once – put it down somewhere never found it again
Brian D
Such a brilliant piece of technology.
Howard Cheesman
I don’t want to detract from this generous offer but if you are not successful in ‘winning’ this tracker you may want to try BikeTrax, a GPS Anti Theft Tracker for e-bikes (only). I tried others and found them wanting but this is excellent. It is mounted internally, works off the bikes battery and is therefore invisible. Given the cost of some e-bikes, it’s a no brainer. This one even prepares a report you can print off to give the Police and you can pin point exactly where your stolen bike is. And if I may, can I point out that Apple are huge corporate Tax Dodgers so you will be making a more ethical choice.
Judith Pitt
Can I try it on the grandkids??
Gillian
I wish I’d had one of these in the last past!!
Let’s hope that widespread adoption of this technology can dramatically reduce cycle theft.
Fred
Please tag my beautiful bike!
Damian Connaughton
Would love one of these to keep tabs on my bike!
Gavin
Quote from article:
[…]’That was the conclusion of ANWB, The Dutch Touring Club, after providing its cycle insurance policy holders with GPS trackers.’
I’m insured with both CTC (Cycling UK) and ETA… why don’t either of those bodies supply these trackers with their policies?
Fergus
That’s a really nifty device- I would like to have one
Faisal AC
Hope i can win one of these!
Dave
Let tag-up and hit those streets!
robert.peel
yes i would like to have this for my e bike bike thefts are rising every year
Peter
Guten tag, yes please
Howard Cheesman
Non Apple products (ie. more ethical) are also available
Stephen Conrad
Just heard about these a few weeks ago and they sound a great way to try and keep your asset safe!
Yours hopefully!
Bill
After having experienced the upset and expense when a bike was stolen I think this product is absolutely superb!
Clive Jones
Would probably be a higher theft prevention rate if they permanently attached them to known bike thieves, but after 2 bikes gone in 6 years I am willing to try anything.
Lucy
Theives bew-airtag
Anthony Johnson
Great idea, although I’d put it somewhere less visible than bottle holder screws. A blank/non working tage/case on bottle holder may foil thieves, as real one tucked away elsewhere!
anthony mack
Club Cyclopark coaches youngsers and had a fleet of bicycles to encourage children to BMX, MTB and road bike but thieves twice broke into the on site cabin and stole the bikes. An affordable and easily fitted and hidden tracker is a well worth while investment.