E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular - both with buyers and thieves
29.3.2023
Translation: machine translated
Over 14,000 e-bikes were stolen in Switzerland in 2022. According to crime statistics, this is more than twice as many as in 2020.
In Switzerland, an e-bike changes hands every 40 minutes - and these are only the ones that are stolen illegally. According to the latest figures on crime in Switzerland, exactly 14,153 thefts of "motorised bikes" were reported in 2022.
This is an increase of 53 per cent compared to the previous year. Compared to 2020, the number of e-bike thefts has more than doubled. Back then, "only" around 6000 e-bikes were lost.
The increase in e-bike thefts is partly due to the fact that more e-bikes are being sold. In 2022 alone, dealers sold almost 220,000 new e-bikes in Switzerland, and almost every second bike sold has a motor, as Velosuisse, the association of Swiss bicycle suppliers, recently reported.
But criminals are also specialising in expensive two-wheelers. Although more non-motorised bicycles are still being stolen, namely 27,413, this figure has almost stagnated compared to the previous year.
Once a bike or e-bike has been stolen, the rightful owner has little hope of getting it back. Only 5.1 per cent of them are returned to their original owner; in 2021, the recovery rate was still slightly higher at 6.6 per cent. For bicycles, it was only 2.9 per cent.
Theft protection for e-bikes
In many cases, e-bikes are loaded onto vans complete with locks. Particularly brazen thieves even break into underground car parks and bike cellars and steal several e-bikes at once. Even if a lock is otherwise mandatory, it can sometimes be useless when professional thieves arrive. Especially not if it is not mounted around a lamppost or other fixed object.
Trackers increase security in addition to the lock. If you fit such a tracking chip to your bike, you can find out where the stolen bike is currently located. Of course, the tracker should be well hidden so that a thief cannot simply remove it. And you need a data plan to be able to use these trackers with GPS. Another relatively inexpensive solution is the AirTags from Apple.
They send out a Bluetooth signal that is picked up by every Apple device. The devices then send the location anonymously to the Airtag owner's "Where is" app via the iCloud. Apart from the purchase, there are no additional costs. The airtags can be hidden under the holder for the water bottle, under the saddle or even in the bell.
Cover photo: Martin Jungfer
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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