Cycle theft in Great Britain. Prepared for Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions DETR, Driver Information and Traffic Management DITM Division.

This report presents a summary of international literature on pedal cycle theft, cycle theft statistics for Great Britain and the results of a survey of victims of bicycle theft in Great Britain. The 1996 British Crime Survey estimated that there were 660,000 incidences of pedal cycle theft during 1995 in England and Wales, of which only 28% were reported to, and recorded by, the Police. The Scottish Crime Survey estimated that there were 26,000 bicycles stolen during 1993, representing a rise of 53% on the 1986 figures. A survey of bicycle theft victims was conducted in December 1996 and January 1997. Topics covered include attitudes towards bicycle theft and how theft and the threat of them affect cycling behaviour. These are compared with response from a control sample of cyclists who have never experienced theft. Results from the survey are compared with British Crime Survey findings. (A)