Rise in bicycle thefts in 2025, police say

Police said stolen bicycles should be reported to them with their serial numbers

There has been a rise in bicycle thefts in 2025 in Jersey compared to the previous year, the island's police force has said.

There was a total of 103 bikes stolen and reported to the States of Jersey Police so far this year, up from 87 in 2024.

Across the last six years there have been 667 bicycle thefts recorded - with 2020 the highest number at 140 offences.

A spokesperson for the police said the recent thefts in the past year were often "opportunistic" and happened when bicycles were left unlocked or in easily accessed garages or sheds.

Steve Marett set up a Facebook page for lost or stolen items four years ago

The founder of a local Jersey Facebook page aiming to return missing bikes to their owners said the number of stolen e-bikes posted on his page had increased in the last few months.

Steve Marett said having expensive bikes stolen could be "heart-breaking".

Mr Marett said the bikes going missing were expensive, ranging "from a couple thousand pounds up to five, six, seven-thousand pounds".

He said: "For somebody to pay that sort of money and then have it taken that must be so heart-breaking for them.

"When they rely on that everyday to get to work, or even just for pleasure, it's just gut-wrenching."

Lee McConnell from St Helier had his bike stolen this year and had posted on the Facebook page.

Mr McConnell said his bike was taken from a secure underground parking area where his bike was locked.

He reported the incident to the police but his bike was not found.

Mr McConnell said: "Its quite a shock to have this happen to me. My bike cost me £600 and I used it regularly, so its unfortunate that I will have to spend that money again to find another."

He added: "I was flabbergasted that the bike was stolen from such a secure underground parking space, and in broad daylight it seems."

Reported bike thefts have risen to 103 so far this year

PC Chloe Jones said there had been a "small increase" this year in bike thefts.

"We're not seeing bike locks broken off or things like that - it's usually when garages have been left insecure or bikes have been left unlocked on the side of the road or outside properties."

Sgt Dave Bowler added the best way to prevent thefts was to use a D-lock, photograph your bike and its serial number, register your bike and store it in locked and secure garages or sheds.