Which Bicycle Brands are most stolen in the UK? Which brands to avoid?

Across the UK, one of the biggest concerns people have in the UK is rising crime rates. Particularly in the huge urban areas like London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow, it seems that crime has never been so prevalent.

While the statistics show a marginal increase in crime rates, like theft, we cannot deny that most of us feel as though rates are increasing. 

A story you hear most often in our modern age is the theft of a bike. With people becoming more environmentally conscious, the rise in the cost of owning and running a car and city congestion, millions of people are turning to bicycles to get from A – to – B. The government is investing heavily in bike lanes and cycling infrastructure. 

Bikes are uniquely profitable for thieves. They are easy to steal and, with demand for affordable bikes so high, are easy to fence for a handful of cash. 

As a new member of the helmet-wearing bike community, and a dweller in a large city, I started my search for a bike with the objective to avoid having the bike stolen. I wondered which bikes attract thieves the most, and therefore, which bike brands to avoid.

So, just to help you make your decisions, I’m setting out to answer: which brands are the most stolen in the UK? So, I did some research and wrote an article about it. 

FYI – We’ve not included Electric bikes in this article, but they are absolutely a target for criminals. So, beware!

Which bike Brands are most stolen? 

After speaking to a few owners of bike shops, I was surprised to learn that some of the most expensive bikes are never stolen. Mainly, because the thieves don’t really know much about bikes. What they do know is that there is a middle market of bikes that are easy to steal, and catch good money when they are resold. 

So, which are the most stolen bike brands in the UK? 

1. Specialized
2. Trek
3. Giant 
4. Ridgeback

Data collected by the National Bike Register suggests that Specialized is the most stolen bike in the UK, making up over 28% of bike thefts. Then followed by Trek is next with 17%, Giant over 14%, Carrera and Ridgeback at 8.8% and 8%. 

The question is why?! And I may have a theory on this. 

Firstly, this data correlates with popularity: Specialized is by far the most purchased bike brand in the UK, with Trek and Giant in the top 5. 

Secondly, brands like TREK, make their brand of bikes easy to recognise. It’s easy to spot a Trek logo from far, and therefore, makes it easier for bike thieves to spot too. 

There is also the question of price; The lowest priced Specialised bike is north of £500. A new one, even stolen, could be worth a lot of money if resold.

Interestingly, Brompton is the second most popular bike brand in the UK, but does not feature on stolen bike statistics. They are also extremely expensive to purchase. This could be down to their unique foldable design? So they do not need to be parked outside where thieves have easy access? Maybe. 

The most stolen bike models in the UK are: 

1. Specialized – Sirrus (worth £600) accounts for 14.3% of stolen bikes. 
2. Specialized – Langster (worth £600 too) accounts for 12.2% of stolen bikes. 
3. Specialized – Allez (worth £1000 too) accounts for 11% of stolen bikes.
4. TREK – 7.3 (worth over £1000) accounts for 9.2% of stolen bikes.
5. TREK – 7.2 (worth over £600) accounts for 8.2%

The statistics show that most of the models stolen are within the £500 to £1000 range. This is a great high quality branded bike, but one that most people can afford. The question needs to be asked: is it just that these bikes are the most popular, which means that hey are always going to be the most stolen?

The data doesn’t suggest that buying a Sirrus is mean that your bike is specifically targeted, but, it will be a bike that is easy to recognise, and easy to sell once it has been stolen.

Which bike Brands should you avoid? And which to choose? 

It seems that if you’re looking for a bike that is more likely to be stolen, avoid Specialized and TREK. Based on the data, you could instead purchase a Ridgeback Bike (which is similar, and slightly cheaper than both brands) and enjoy the same quality of ride, without so much risk of the bike being stolen. 

Brompton is a very interesting case, as the way the bike can be stored clearly makes a huge difference to how easy it is to steal. Let’s be honest, if you chain a Brompton bike outside it is just as likely to be stolen as other brands, but the ease of storage may be an advantage you cannot live without, particularly if you live in a huge city like London. 

What is our advice.

Based on the data above, it looks like there is a strong correlation between how popular a bike it, and how likely it is to be stolen. That just suggests that bikes are always stolen, and there is a higher chance it will be one of the more popular brands. Also, if a brand is more known to thieves, then it’s more likely to be targeted. 

Let’s be honest, if you have a new bike from any of the brands, it will likely be stolen if placed insecurely in the wrong place. 

Here is a few tips for the road. 

1. Buy a second-hand bike (that’s worth nothing to a thief). 
2. Cover branding, and make the bike unattractive (literally, make it ugly).
3. Buy a bike that can be stored inside (like a Brompton)
4. Add a lock on the wheel and bike storage to make it harder for bike thieves. 
5. Attach a tracker to reclaim the bike. 

Final Thoughts

Statistically, Specialized is the most stolen brand in the UK, but it doesn’t mean that you should avoid the brand. Instead, think carefully about how you store your bike, where it will be chained (even for a short period of time) and how you can disincentivise criminals.