Is e-bike theft really that common?
Last updated
Yes: the numbers back it up. A January 2025 study by the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Bike Index, and YouGov put bicycle theft in the United States at 2.4 million bikes a year, worth over $1.4 billion. E-bikes are a growing share of that total: 12% of the stolen bikes reported to the Bike Index registry are electric, and reported thefts across the registry rose 15% in 2024.
The economics explain why. An e-bike is one of the most valuable things a household routinely locks outside, and the battery and motor components resell quickly on their own. A thief will walk past a commuter bike to target a more valuable e-bike.
Where are e-bikes most likely to be stolen?
At home, more often than on the street. The same research found that 59% of bike thefts happen in residential areas, 28% from sheds and garages, and 18% from outdoor racks. A Velosurance policy covers theft in all of those places: away from home, the bike must be locked to an immovable object, and when behind a closed garage door, no immovable object lock-up is required. The full rules are in the bike theft coverage conditions.
How do you keep your e-bike off the stolen list?
Start with hardware: a high-quality U-lock or sleeved chain rather than an easily defeated cable lock; our picks are in the lock we recommend. Register the serial number and report any theft: only 37% of victims report bike theft to the police, yet police were involved in 63% of stolen bike recoveries, so a police report materially raises the odds of getting the bike back. Insurance closes the gap a lock cannot: a stolen e-bike is paid as a total loss up to the bike's replacement value with no depreciation for age. The details are on our e-bike insurance page.
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