Why UK police ignore stolen bike GPS tracker intel

If you have a tracker in your stolen car, UK police fall over themselves trying to recover it. £6k trackable e-bike? Not so much.

One of our customers recently had their expensive e-bike pinched. Armed with the live data from a GPS tracker, he contacted the police. In reply, he received a standard response email saying that due to lack of evidence the case was closed.

This is not an isolated incident. And it's in sharp contrast to the approach taken by the police when a tracker-equipped car is stolen.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) systems are fitted to over 2000 UK police vehicle. Even the helicopters of the National Police Air Service fleet are equipped with the technology. And for good measure so are most major UK ports.

It’s why cars equipped with one particular brand of tracker stand a 95 per cent chance of being recovered safely.

{{cta-cycling}}

‍

We don’t know for certain why the police are so reluctant to act on GPS tracker intelligence. In the case of the £6k e-bike, there’s a chance the tracking data would lead officers to an organised bike theft gang.

Unless the police take cycle theft seriously, the crime will continue to plague towns and cities. And it's a stark reminder of the benefits of standalone cycle insurance.

{{cta-cycling}}

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover  and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

‍