What do I do after a theft?

🧭 If You’re a BackPedal Customer

We’ve designed the experience to be as stress-free as possible. Just report the theft, 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

Step

BackPedal Customer

Non-Customer

Theft reported

Via hotline 0800 8611 959

Report to police

Police involvement

BackPedal handles it

You report

Tracker monitoring

Done by BackPedal

DIY

Recovery agents

Deployed by us

❌

Insurance help

Yes, with support

Self-managed

Bike returned

✅ Delivered to you

❌

Emotional damage

😢 mitigated

😢 deepened

Need to report a theft right now? Call 0800 8611 959 or email team@backpedal.co.

If you’re not a customer but want to be, join us here. Recovery isn’t just for the lucky—it’s for the prepared.