Richmond Upon Thames (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Richmond has recorded the highest number of bicycle thefts at train stations across London, making it the capital’s leading hotspot for cycle-related crime.
As reported by South West Londoner, an episode of bicycle theft occurs every 16 minutes, making it one of the most common crimes in London.
According to data from the British Transport Police, approximately a thousand of these crimes occurred in 2024 and included bicycles that were locked up at stations.
Bicycle thefts from South West stations are particularly prevalent, according to data from London rail, overground, tube, and tram stations. From 2019 to 2024, Surbiton, Richmond, Twickenham, and Teddington stations regularly had the highest number of reported thefts.
During the six-year period, Richmond stations recorded 734 reported events, followed by Kingston upon Thames with 405 incidents.
According to data gathered through a Freedom of Information request, Richmond and Kingston alone accounted for over a quarter of all bicycle thefts from stations in all 33 boroughs of London.
Jake Neale, Retail and Marketing Manager at Richmond Cycles, said:
“In the last couple of years, it definitely feels like that’s happening more regularly, both from outside stations, but also from homes and elsewhere.”
According to Statista, the average cost of brand-new bicycles in the UK was approximately £590 in 2023. Some models are capable of fetching much higher prices.
Neale added:
“It’s definitely not uncommon around here to see £10,000 bikes.”
According to Neale, high-value models that are rarely registered, hard to track down, and unlikely to result in police action make bicycles a desirable target for thieves.
He said:
“They just cut through the street furniture because these days, bike theft is no longer just teenagers seeing an unlocked bike and just grabbing it for a bit of fun. It’s a real targeted theft. They know what they’re doing.
They’re rocking up with unmarked vans and ankle drivers and completely covered faces, and they’re in and out within seconds. It’s basically impossible to stop, really.”
To increase awareness and encourage bike security, police have increased patrols in high-theft locations like the town centers of Richmond and Twickenham. They also interact with the community by holding events.
In order to discourage thieves and improve the likelihood of recovery, cyclists are urged to use public storage spaces that are monitored whenever feasible.
Since the South West is a more affluent area of London and bikes are probably worth more there, Neale, who has worked at Richmond Cycles for more than seven years, believes that bike thefts should be more regular there.
However, there is no clear correlation between the frequency of thefts and wealth.
According to Trust for London data, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea actually have the highest levels of discretionary income among their residents, but they also have the fewest recorded bicycle thefts.
Neale said that the area’s closeness to Richmond Park, one of London’s most well-liked riding destinations, would draw riders, who might be more inclined to purchase more expensive bikes.
In his 20 years of living in South London, podcast host Ben Holland has experienced financial strain and frustration after having six of his bikes stolen.
Because of the great risk of theft, he has decided not to buy an aspirational bike again as a result of these robberies.
The 41-year-old said:
“I saw a bike someone was selling, an expensive specialized bike, for next to nothing. That’s a really amazing, beautiful bike, and it’d be nice to ride around. And I thought, oh, actually, no. That’s crazy, it’s not worth having one.
I feel very confident that by having a cheap bike and an expensive lock, like a lock that’s literally worth more than the bike, then you’d always be fine.”
By making bikes more difficult to steal, improving recovery chances, and enhancing community awareness of security procedures, these actions seek to lower bicycle theft.
The British Transport Police have started a campaign in partnership with the monitoring website BikeRegister.com to make it easier to trace stolen bikes due to the high number of thefts from London terminals.
In an effort to increase awareness of the high rate of bicycle theft in London, the campaign advises riders to “double lock” their bikes as a precaution.
The British Transport Police said:
“We are pleased to see a decrease in reports of thefts at Twickenham and Richmond in 2024 compared to the previous year.”
They said that they are aware that every offence is one too many, and they will continue to work relentlessly alongside our policing partners and partners in the rail industry to further reduce incidents of theft and criminality across the railway network.
Their patrols are targeted and supported by statistics to ensure that our officers are exactly where they are most needed.
What measures are being taken to reduce bicycle thefts in Richmond?
Through initiatives like Project 529, a free and user-friendly app that assists police in locating and returning stolen bikes to their owners, Richmond encourages bicycle registration. In the event that a bike is stolen, registration helps with recovery and serves as a theft deterrent.
The police and council conduct programs to teach locals how to properly secure their bicycles, which include tips on how to use high-quality locks, park in busy, well-lit areas, and take off readily detachable accessories.
In order to decrease the likelihood of theft, cyclists are encouraged to “lock it twice or lose it,” which means securing the frame and wheels to stationary objects with two strong locks.
Residents are urged to safeguard their garages and sheds with sturdy locks and alarms, as private properties are the site of more than half of bike thefts.