Bike Thefts Increase as More People Take to Two Wheels

As the popularity of bikes has increased during the pandemic, so too has the demand for bikes, leading to a spike in bike thefts, according to the example of the city of Denver.

"During the first half of 2020, bike thefts in Denver are up more than 18% over last year, police data shows, as the city’s avid cycling community grows increasingly exasperated with what they say is a troubling trend," reports Sam Tabachnik.

The trend has accelerated during the height of the pandemic: "Since Jan. 1, there have been 1,621 bicycle thefts in Denver, up from 1,368 over the same period last year, according to data provided by the Denver Police Department. April and May were particularly rough for cyclists, with a combined 749 thefts — 162 more than 2019’s total during those months."

According to a spokesperson for the Denver Police Department quoted in the article, there is no clear reason for the uptick. The spokesperson also discourages bike riders from taking matters into their own hands, as some social media groups have begun to marshal the resources of the local bike community to track down and recover some stolen bikes.