Bikes stolen are becoming increasingly more expensive

Last year, AXA reported a slight decrease in the number of stolen bicycles and e-bikes compared to the previous year, but the average cost per claim was higher than ever before. In the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, and Solothurn, the probability of becoming a victim of bike theft was especially high.

Spring is in the air – and so are bike thieves. AXA, Switzerland’s largest property and casualty insurer, paid out CHF 21 million last year for stolen bicycles, with 9,000 cases reported. While this is about ten percent less than in the previous year, the average claim per case reached a new record high of CHF 2,350. This is almost twice as much as it was ten years ago. “Bicycles are becoming increasingly more expensive, and the proportion of e-bikes has risen – making them a lucrative target for thieves,” explains Stefan Müller, Head of Property Claims at AXA. An e-bike theft costs the insurance company an average of CHF 2,830.

Caution advised in Basel and Solothurn

Nationwide, one in every 91 insured households was affected by a bicycle theft last year. This was fewer than in the previous three years. “A welcome development, though we don’t know exactly why. Perhaps people are being more careful and securing their bicycles better, or perhaps there are fewer bicycle thieves,” said Stefan Müller. However, a look at the map of Switzerland reveals differences between the cantons: Basel-Stadt is and remains the uncontested top spot for bicycle thefts. Last year, every 27th insured household had to report to AXA that a bicycle had gone missing. People in Basel-Land (one in every 41 households) and Solothurn (one in every 57 households) were also frequently affected. In the canton of Geneva, the bicycle theft rate has dropped significantly compared to the previous year (from one in every 46 households to one in every 67 households). Ticino appears to have the fewest thieves, with only one in every 535 households having had a bicycle stolen. The risk was nearly 20 times lower there than in Basel-Stadt. The rate was also low in Nidwalden (one in every 248 households) and in Valais (one in every 225 households).

“One driver for the regional differences could be the proximity to the border, since there is more organized crime there which transports stolen bikes abroad,” says Stefan Müller. “Being a city with a high number of bikes could be a further reason, as there is of course ample 'supply' for thieves.” The difference between urban and rural areas is also discernible in the statistic: Eight of the ten largest Swiss cities have a bike theft rate above the Swiss national average. Only Lugano and St. Gallen have a below-average value.

How to protect your bike

If you take some precautions, the risk of your bike being stolen can be minimized. “If possible, bikes should be parked where they can be locked and monitored,” Stefan Müller recommends. Securing the bike with a high-quality lock at a fixed location so that it can’t be simply taken away provides additional protection. If the bike is stolen anyway, the theft should be reported to the police as soon as possible. If you know the brand, exact model, and frame number, there is a greater likelihood that you will see your bike again. It is also advisable to register the bicycle or e-bike – for example, there are bike vignettes that allow you to register your bike online. “In addition to organized crime, which transports large quantities of bikes, we also see a lot of opportunistic thefts where a bike is used for one journey and then left again,” says Stefan Müller. So there is a chance of seeing the bicycle or e-bike again.