Increased thefts

The best way to protect your bike from thieves

There are many ways to protect your bike from theft. However, making the right choice is not that easy.

(Bild: Oleksandr Kozak - stock.adobe.com)

For the first time since 2014, the number of bicycle thefts in Austria rose again last year. The detection rate remains low, while the value of bikes - driven by the e-bike boom - continues to rise. Find out how to best protect your bike and what to look out for in our comprehensive guide.

The number of reported bicycle thefts in Austria has fallen for eight years in a row, from 28,274 in 2014 to 16,824 in 2022 - "lower than (...) ever before in the 21st century", as the Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) commented at the time. The previous year then saw an unwelcome change of course: according to the latest VCÖ figures, ten percent more bikes were stolen, with 18,566 officially reported thefts.

60 percent of the crimes occurred in the provincial capitals. Vienna was an exception: almost seven percent fewer bicycles were stolen there in 2023 than in 2022. At 6,328, the federal capital nevertheless recorded the highest number of bicycle thefts in absolute terms, both in a comparison of provinces and provincial capitals. 

18,566 bicycles were reported stolen in Austria in 2023.

(Bild: wavybxl - stock.adobe.com)

In relation to the population, Linz was the hotspot for bicycle theft: 63 bicycles were stolen per 10,000 inhabitants in Upper Austria's provincial capital. It was followed by the cities of Salzburg and Klagenfurt with 52 and 49 bicycle thefts per 10,000 people respectively.

In contrast, the districts of Hermagor and Murau had the lowest number of bicycle thefts in absolute terms last year, with three each. This was followed by the district of Tamsweg with five and the statutory town of Waidhofen an der Ybbs with nine. Outside of the capital cities, most bicycles were stolen in the district of Mödling with 347.

Bicycle thefts in 2023 (change compared to 2022)

Vienna: 6328 (6780 / minus 6.7 percent)
Lower Austria: 2747 (2144 / plus 28.1 percent)
Upper Austria: 2,682 (2109 / plus 27.2 percent)
Salzburg: 1284 (1227 / plus 4.6 percent)
Tyrol: 1254 (1203 / plus 4.2 percent)
Styria: 1908 (1,822 / up 4.7 percent)
Carinthia: 897 (808 / plus 11 percent)
Vorarlberg: 984 (408 / plus 141.2 percent)
Burgenland: 482 (323 / plus 49.2 percent)

Low detection rate, more expensive bikes
The chances of recovering a stolen bike are quite low. Although the clearance rate rose slightly in the previous year, at 9.3 percent it was still in the lower range. Only 1727 such offenses were solved. 

In contrast, the average price of e-bikes has risen steadily in recent years. While their sales price was still around 3000 euros in 2020, they cost more than 4200 euros on average in 2022. 

While the sales prices for "analog" bikes have remained relatively constant, those for e-bikes have risen significantly.

(Bild: Statista)

How much you should invest in securing your bike
Securing your own bike against theft therefore pays off, even if it's only for a quick stop at the bakery or similar (see chart below). A rule of thumb says that you should invest around ten percent of the purchase price in securing your bike - in the case of an average e-bike, this would be around 400 euros. However, there is a wide range of suitable solutions on offer.