Stories of stolen bicycle recovery from Iceland's Bike Whisperer to London's BackPedal

Stories of stolen bicycle recovery from Iceland’s Bike Whisperer to London’s BackPedal

Bicycle theft is on the rise in most major urban centers around the globe — stolen bicycle recovery, not so much. Millions of bicycles are swiped, a good percentage aren’t even locked up at all. The majority are never found, and the criminals are rarely punished. But, there are stories of hope. For instance, the Bike Whisperer of Reykjavik, Iceland. And there are more services and products to help from air tags and registries to smart alarms. One of the more effective has been a more hands-on approach to stolen bicycle recovery in London, England by a company dubbed BackPedal. Here are two bicycle theft stories that could help inspire others in the future.

The Bike Whisperer

In the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland, a local enthusiast known as the “bike whisperer” has gained notoriety for his unconventional approach to stolen bicycle recovery without resorting to anger or involving the police.

Bjartmar Leósson is a pivotal figure in the city’s efforts to reclaim stolen bikes, and was recently featured in a Guardian article. Rather than reporting thefts to law enforcement, it is the police who reach out to Leósson when individuals report missing bicycles. He’s that good. This unique collaboration reflects Iceland’s take on rehabilitation versus a traditional criminal justice system. For context, Iceland is a country with just one high-security penitentiary.

For Leósson, a self-professed “bike nerd,” his mission began when his own bike was stolen years ago. Convinced that the thefts were centered around a Reykjavik homeless shelter, he noticed law enforcement vehicles passing stolen bikes outside without taking action. Well, he took action.

Leósson decided to engage with them through dialogue. “I was very angry, they were angry. But then I started to think: OK, it doesn’t matter, I can scream until I’m blue in the face, nothing’s going to change,” Leósson told The Guardian. “So I decided to try to level with them and just talk to them.”

This shift in approach transformed former thieves from the shelter into allies in a city-wide initiative to combat bike theft. The individuals experiencing homelessness became instrumental in identifying stolen bikes and aiding in their recovery. Leósson established the “Bicycle stuff etc lost, found or stolen” Facebook group, or Hjóladót ofl. tapað fundið eða stolið, which now boasts over 14,000 members. Through this platform, the community collaborates to track down and return stolen bikes to their rightful owners, exemplifying a unique form of grassroots criminal rehabilitation in action.

According to the Guardian, bike theft is actually falling in the city, which is a stark contrast to pretty much every other major city.

BackPedal

Backpedal stolen bicycle recovery

In the ongoing battle against bicycle theft, a UK-based company, BackPedal, is making waves with its specialized e-bike theft protection and recovery service.

Founder James Dunn employs GPS trackers and Bluetooth beacons to aid in recovery, collaborating with a network of experienced agents nationwide. When a bike is stolen, BackPedal takes charge, handling everything from police interactions to deploying recovery agents and returning the bike to its owner. Dunn, driven by personal experience when his girlfriend’s bike was stolen, has garnered a positive response, with a success rate of 89% over the past 18 months.

“Everything from handling the police through to deploying our agents, through to recovering the bike and getting it back to the customer,” Dunn told Momentum.

Frequently, Dunn captures video footage of recovery operations and shares them on various social media platforms. His connection to the bicycle community dates back to his initial roles, from delivering newspapers on a bicycle to working as a bike shop mechanic. Consequently, the issue of bike theft has consistently held a prominent place in his awareness.

The company aims to expand its reach across the UK, inspiring hopes for a similar service in North America.

Final Thoughts

In summary, amidst the widespread challenge of bicycle theft globally, these notable stolen bicycle recovery stories offer some hope that things can change. The Bike Whisperer in Reykjavik, Iceland, exemplifies a unique approach, collaborating with former thieves to combat bike theft city-wide, resulting in a decline in theft rates. Meanwhile, BackPedal, a UK-based company, has achieved an impressive 89% success rate in e-bike theft recovery through a hands-on approach and innovative technology. These stories showcase the potential for community collaboration and proactive strategies to reshape the narrative of bicycle theft.