Cyclists Seek Help as Police Abandon Bike Theft Investigations
With police giving up on bike thefts, cyclists are turning to private recovery services for help
London, UK, Bike Theft, BackPedal, Recovery Services
London: A bicycle recovery company is stepping in where police have fallen short. BackPedal is using former security guards to track down stolen bikes. They’re out on the streets, retrieving bikes from thieves while police seem to be doing little.
BackPedal employs GPS trackers and Bluetooth beacons, along with recovery agents and “spotters” to locate stolen bikes and return them to their owners. The company was founded by James Dunn and Richard White after Dunn’s girlfriend had her bike stolen. Frustrated by the slow police response, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
They claim an impressive 80% recovery rate, managing to retrieve about a bike a day. Currently, they have nearly 1,000 customers. Initially focused on London, they believe they can tackle bike theft across the UK with the right resources.
White pointed out that bike theft victims often face blame when they report a theft. People are asked where they left their bike, and the response is often dismissive. The police have recorded a drop in bike thefts, but this might be due to fewer thefts being reported. Many victims don’t bother to report it at all.
Recent data shows that over 365,000 bike thefts reported to police since 2019 remain unsolved, which is a staggering 89% of all cases. That’s about 200 thefts a day going unresolved in England and Wales. Out of all reported thefts, only a tiny fraction led to arrests.
BackPedal customers pay a monthly fee to have a discreet tracker and Bluetooth beacon installed on their bikes. If their bike is stolen, they can call a 24/7 recovery line, and an agent will be dispatched to recover it. The Bluetooth beacons help agents pinpoint the bike’s location, especially in tricky spots like apartment blocks.
Bilal Ali, a former security guard, has been working as a recovery agent for six months. He sees calling the police as a last resort. In his experience, police often side with the thief, leaving the victim frustrated. Ali started as a spotter, locating bikes before recovery agents swoop in.
He’s successfully recovered nearly 100 bikes, including one that was taken all the way to Norwich. Ali enjoys the job, feeling like he’s making a positive impact. He’s found that his size helps, but it’s his approach that really makes a difference when dealing with thieves.
Once he locates a bike, he doesn’t accuse anyone outright. Instead, he gives them the benefit of the doubt, which often leads to them claiming they had no idea the bike was stolen. When he mentions “harbouring stolen goods,” they usually hand the bike over.
BackPedal is also hiring former police officers and training them as recovery agents. They recently brought on an ex-Metropolitan police officer with three decades of experience. The company serves both individual cyclists and fleet companies that rent electric bikes to delivery drivers.