Individual risk locations

“Only” 6328 bicycles stolen in Vienna

With bicycles in particular, opportunity makes thieves - often all it takes is an unobserved moment.

(Bild: APA/Herbert Pfarrhofer)

The number of reports of bicycle theft in Vienna has fallen significantly, with thieves now striking far more often in other provincial capitals. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of need for action: In Vienna, the risk varies greatly depending on the district.

The fact that 6328 bicycles were reported stolen to the police in Vienna last year doesn't sound like good news, but it is: this represents a seven percent drop in just one year. Ten years ago, the number of stolen bikes was around 3000, or a third, higher. In 2023, Vienna was also the only provincial capital in which the figures fell.

Twice as many thefts per inhabitant in Linz
Vienna is now only in mid-table among the provincial capitals when it comes to bicycle theft: Around one in 300 inhabitants had their bike stolen here last year, compared to almost one in 150 in Linz. Salzburg, Klagenfurt and Innsbruck also had to worry about stolen bikes far more often than Vienna last year. Graz and St. Pölten are roughly on a par with Vienna. Only in Bregenz and Eisenstadt are bikes much safer.

In four provincial capitals, cyclists have to worry significantly more about theft than in Vienna.

(Bild: APA/HERBERT P. OCZERET)

Big differences depending on the district
How high the risk is of not finding your bike where you left it depends heavily on the district in Vienna: Leopoldstadt is the lone leader here with 678 reported thefts, followed by Favoriten and Floridsdorf - albeit with far higher population figures. Bringing up the rear is Döbling with 94 cases. Compared to the number of inhabitants, the ranking is clearly different: here the Innere Stadt is the sad record holder.

Where bike thieves strike and how often

(One stolen bike per inhabitant of the district)

1. Inner City: 99
2. Alsergrund: 138
3. Neubau: 151
4. Wieden: 152
5. Mariahilf: 160
6. Leopoldstadt: 162
7. Josefstadt: 187
8. Landstraße: 205
9. Margareten: 225
10. Währing: 323
11. Donaustadt: 354
12. Meidling: 359
13. Floridsdorf: 373
14. Ottakring: 392
15. Hernals: 394
16. Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus: 398
17. Favoriten: 417
18. Brigittenau: 441
19. Hietzing: 474
20. Liesing: 483
21. Simmering: 579
22. Penzing: 595
23. Döbling: 802

Opportunity also makes bike thieves
The detection rate of thefts in Vienna remains low at seven percent, partly because owners often become "accomplices" involuntarily: Furthermore, only a few people make a note of the frame number of their bike, for example, so that they can make the police's job easier if the worst comes to the worst. Apart from this, it is probably worth taking out theft insurance for expensive new bikes, which should also cover partial theft.

All the more reason for the VCÖ to urge people to make sure they have good locks - and the appropriate discipline: opportunity still makes thieves of bikes, and bikes left unlocked for just a "short time" or only locked at the front wheel are gone forever. However, the VCÖ also holds the city accountable, as the most important theft prevention measure is still sufficient bicycle parking spaces. Vienna needs to catch up, especially in front of stores, supermarkets, leisure facilities and sports venues.