Is it a crime to steal a bike?

Many people rely on their bicycles and other vessels for transportation and work. It may be tempting to “temporarily borrow” someone else’s bicycle, boat or other vessel without their consent, however the unlawful taking of a bicycle or vessel is considered a theft crime under California Penal Code Section 499b PC.

What type of crime is stealing a bike?

misdemeanor
The temporary taking of someone else’s bike or vessel is charged as a misdemeanor in California. If a defendant takes a bicycle, then the crime is punishable by: imprisonment in the county jail for not more than three months; and/or, a maximum fine of $400.

How common is bicycle theft?

A bicycle is stolen every 30 seconds in the United States. That’s roughly two million bikes a year, totaling about $350 million . To give you some perspective, less than one million motor vehicles are stolen each year in America. Bicycle thefts might be even higher than what’s reported.

Why do thieves steal bikes?

Acquisitive: These thieves steal bicycles for financial gain and usually trade them for cash or goods. The bikes may also be sold in pieces for drugs or money.

Are people stealing bikes?

At the end of 2020, Bike Index estimates that the total number of bikes marked stolen was 96,583, an approximately 24\% increase from the data of 2019. The increase could be attributed to new riders entering the market. Some cities across the country are also seeing spikes in bicycle thefts.

What happens if you steal a bike?

You might think the police will do nothing. You might think it’s a waste of time. But the fact is that almost half of stolen bikes are eventually recovered by the police. But if they recover a stolen bike and you’ve filed a report with a serial number, they’ll link it to you and you’ll get your bike back!

What percentage of stolen bikes are found?

Only one percent of stolen bikes are recovered, according to records reviewed by WFAA. Mary Fehler, who heads the Dallas Bicycle Coalition, says many cyclists have just quit reporting thefts. “Because they don’t think police are going to do anything.

What bicycles are stolen the most?

The most commonly-stolen type of bike is an unlocked one, followed closely by one locked with a cable.