Help centre

Thefts & Recovery

What do I do after a theft?

Whether you're a BackPedal customer or not, having your bike stolen is a gut punch. But the steps you take in the first few hours can make all the difference. Here's what to do — with or without BackPedal.

🧭 If You’re a BackPedal Customer

We’ve designed the experience to be as stress-free as possible. Just report the theft to us, and we’ll take care of the rest.

1. 📞 Call the BackPedal Theft Hotline

0808 304 0476 – it’s free and open 24/7, every day of the year. (You can also report via our website or by emailing team@backpedal.co.)

2. 🧾 We Handle the Police Report

We log the crime with the police and get a crime reference number—so you don’t have to.

3. 🕵️‍♀️ We Get to Work

Our team will:

  • Access your bike’s tracker data
  • Analyse where it’s gone
  • Deploy a trained recovery agent (or multiple if needed)
  • Work with local police if needed

We’ll send you updates as things progress.

4. 🚚 We Bring Your Bike Back

If we recover your bike (and we usually do—80% within 72 hours), we’ll return it directly to you.

Expect hugs, relief, and a little happy dance.

5. 🛠️ If It’s Damaged?

We’ll assess the damage and coordinate with Sundays Insurance to either:

  • Repair the bike
  • Replace damaged parts
  • Or sort a replacement

6. 💸 If It’s Not Recovered

If we can’t get it back, you’re still covered:

  • We help you initiate the insurance claim
  • You can start the claim as early as you like if recovery looks unlikely
  • Payouts are typically made on a “new for old” basis if you bought the bike new

🧍 If You’re Not a BackPedal Customer

Recovery is still possible—but you’re going solo.

Here’s what to do:

1. 🛂 Report the Theft to the Police

Use 101 or your local force’s online portal.

Be prepared with details: serial/frame number, photos, and how the bike was secured.

2. 📄 Make an Insurance Claim

Submit your police report and any photos, receipts, or lock evidence.

Brace yourself for admin and processing times.

3. 📡 Use Your Own Tracker

If your bike has a tracker, log in and see if you can get a location.

Share the info with the police.

4. 🧑‍💻 Monitor Stolen Bike Marketplaces

Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay and Craigslist are common places stolen bikes pop up.

Use Google image search or Bike Index to spot matches.

5. 🤞 Hope

Unfortunately, most stolen bikes without recovery support don’t make it home. You might get lucky—but the odds aren’t great.

🧠 TL;DR

StepBackPedal CustomerNon-customer
Theft reportedVia hotline 0808 304 0476Report to police
Police involvementBackPedal handles itYou report
Trackerr monitoringDone by BackPedalDIY
Recovery agentsDeployed by us
Insurance helpYes, we supportSelf-managed
Bike returned✅ Delivered to you
Emotional damage😢 mitigated😢 deepened

Need to report a theft right now? Call 0808 304 0476 or email team@backpedal.co

If you’re not a customer but want to be, join us!

Recovery isn’t just for the lucky—it’s for the prepared.

Ready to protect your bike?

Tracking kit, professional installation, and a 24/7 recovery team — all included in your subscription.

See pricing plans