The east London borough that is the city’s worst place for bicycle thefts

Whether they are health fanatics, tech bros on Bromptons or hipsters riding fixed-gear bikes, it’s no secret that east London is full of keen cyclists. 

Now it’s been revealed that one east London location is the capital’s worst spot for bike theft. 

It’s official: in the past 12 months Hackney was the worst place for bike thefts in London. According to an analysis of Metropolitan Police data by Lawtons Solicitors, in the year ending April 2025 thieves got their hands on 1,363 bikes in the borough, the equivalent of 4.8 thefts per 1,000 people.

In Hackney opportunistic robbers carried out almost triple the amount of the London average number of bike thefts: of 1.7 per 1,000 people.

Camden, Westminster and Islington all had the second highest rates of bike theft, with all three boroughs seeing 3.9 thefts per 1,000 people. These areas were followed by Tower Hamlets which saw 3.7 instances per 1,000 people. 

It’s estimated that the number of daily cycle journeys in London increased to 1.33 million per day in 2024, which has led to a rise in bike theft. 

Andy Hobdell, criminal solicitor and partner at Lawtons Solicitors, said: ‘There is a widespread issue concerning bike theft in the UK, and despite improvements in bike crime rates, they continue to be heavily targeted by thieves.

‘One major factor contributing to increasing theft is that it’s still so easy for criminals to get away with the offence. Unfortunately, suspects aren’t being identified because there’s usually no relationship between themselves and the victim, and it’s a relatively low-priority crime for the police to pursue.

‘Beyond this, most owners often don’t document the ownership of their bikes, making it difficult to prosecute even if the perpetrator is caught.’

If you want to keep your two wheels safe, Lawtons recommends registering your bike and keeping note of its serial number. ‘The combination of marking and registering your bike acts as a deterrent to thieves and a way for the police to trace your bike back to you if it is stolen and recovered,’ Hobdell said. 

London boroughs with the worst bike crime rates (thefts per 1,000 people)

1. Hackney – 4.8

2. Camden – 3.9

= Westminster – 3.9

= Islington – 3.9

3. Tower Hamlets – 3.7 

A new map shows where people get robbed the most on Oxford Street. 

Plus: the tube stations and London Underground lines with the highest crime rates.