Over 100 bicycles are being stolen from railway stations every week during the summer months in a new crime explosion that has cost victims £7.1m in just three years. New figures show a total of 4,106 bicycles were stolen from railway stations in 2024 – equivalent to 79 each week. But the theft numbers increase in summer months as more people use pedal power to assist their daily commute. And with over 14,000 bicycles stolen from stations in the previous three years at an average cost per cycle of £502 the cost victims tops £7.1 million according to Compare The Market
Cyclists riding their bikes to Cambridge North, St Albans City, and Reading stations – prime commuter spots for London – suffered from the most bicycle thefts last year The data was obtained from a Freedom of Information request to the British Transport Police and the 4,106 theft number for 2024 represents a 14% decline from the previous year when 4,678 bikes were stolen.
Over the past three years, 14,161 bikes were reported stolen from stations however, not all bike thefts are reported, meaning the total number stolen is sure to be higher.
Despite the slight decrease in bikes being stolen from stations, bicycle thefts from trains have increased year-on-year as 98 were stolen in 2024. This marks a 14% rise from 2023 when 84 bikes were stolen from trains.
Cambridge North, St Albans City, and Reading had the most bicycle thefts of any railway stations in 2024 respectively. Cambridge North and St Albans also had the most bike thefts in 2023. Over 100 bicycles were stolen from Cambridge North in both years.
In both 2024 and 2023, each of the top ten stations were in southern England – although the data covers all of the UK.
In an attempt to combat the problem at Cambridge North, which only opened in 2017, rail operator Greater Anglia – which manages the station – opened a secure cycle parking area costing £600,000.
Fencing was installed around part of original cycle parking area to try to deter thieves, with 730 spaces available via a key fob costing £25 a year to access the area which opened in May 2024.
With the cost of bikes so high Compare The Market says riders should ensure they have insurance and the right police for their needs.
The firm’s Anna McEntee said: “Thieves will often target bikes left at stations while their owners commute to work or school. Many cyclists depend on their bikes for everyday transport, so this crime is particularly costly and inconvenient for victims. Ensuring your bike is insured, either through specialist bicycle insurance or through personal possessions cover outside the home, can help offer piece of mind for cyclists that depend on it.
“It’s important to note that care should be taken to make sure your bike is stored securely and not left for more than 24 hours for some insurance policies to be valid. If your bike is stolen, you should report it to the police straight away as you will need a crime reference number for any insurance claim.”
The affluent commuter city of St Albans – with an average house cost of £640,000 and just 20 minutes from London by train – is among the areas to have become blighted by bike thefts in recent years.
In attempt to combat the problem, bosses at the Thameslink-run St Albans City station taped off the bike racks outside following advice by British Transport Police.
Black and yellow warning tape was placed over the bike stands, preventing commuters from locking up their bikes directly outside the station.
Station managers instead urged passengers to use the ‘Cycle Hub’, a free locked parking area which has CCTV and can be accessed with a fob from the ticket office.
Simon Munk, head of campaigns and community development at the London Cycling Campaign said: “We know a significant proportion of people who have their bike stolen don’t return to cycling, so if we want more people cycling and healthier cities, we need to tackle the thieves.
“Yet the police clearance rate for cycle theft remains shockingly low and so many rail stations fail to provide enough secure cycle parking.
“That means, at too many stations, people worry their bike won’t be there when they return – and that is one of the key reasons many people don’t cycle.”
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, said: “Bike theft is often perceived as a petty crime, but it can carry a huge social and financial impact, especially for those that use their bike as an affordable and healthy way to get to the train station.
“While we acknowledge the limitations on police resources, there’s clearly huge scope to do more.”
He said the organisation’s campaign ‘My ride. Our right’ highlights how issues such as safe bike parking can affect women and their transport choices.
Mr Dollimore added: “With so many bikes being targeted by thieves, we need more secure cycle hubs that offer free locked parking, protected by CCTV and the police to take cycle theft more seriously.”
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We have officers across the rail network around the clock, at stations and on trains, to deter and detect crimes, and we are pleased to see a decrease in the amount of bikes stolen from stations across the country.
“Our patrols are targeted and supported by statistics to ensure that our officers are exactly where they are most needed, and when crimes do happen, we’re fortunate to work in a CCTV rich environment to help to bring offenders to justice.
“We are aware that every offence is one too many, and we will continue to work relentlessly alongside our policing partners and partners in the rail industry to further reduce incidents of theft and criminality across the railway network.”
The force also hosts bike marking pop ups at stations across England, Scotland, and Wales, and recommends cyclists register their bikes on the Bike Register, which can help reunite owners with a stolen cycle.