Bike stolen in Utrecht? You have to do this immediately

Have you discovered that your bike is gone in Utrecht? Stay calm and take the following steps immediately to increase your chances of recovery and to report the theft properly. First, check that your bike may not have been removed by the municipality. Still stolen? Then register a police report, report your bike to BIKEBAZE as stolen and take additional actions.

1. Check the municipal bicycle depot

In Utrecht, bicycles parked incorrectly or for too long are transported by the municipality to the Utrecht bicycle depot. Here's how to find out if your bike is there:

• Bicycle that the municipality has removed goes to the depot at the Labradordreef 13 (3565 AN Utrecht). The depot is open Mon—Fr 09:00 — 19:00 and Sat 10:00 — 18:00.
• Go to Verlorenofgevonden.nl and search for your bike. This national database shows bicycles in all municipal depots.
• Call the municipality of Utrecht via 14 030 for information about whether your bike is in the depot.
• If your bike is found in the depot, you can pick it up. Then take a valid ID, your bike key and the registration number of VerloenOfGegevonden more. Please note: in 2025 you pay when you pick up €26.00 at costs.
• Is your bike standing? not in the depot? Then there is a good chance that it was really stolen. Then continue with step 2.

2. Report it to the police immediately

If your bike is not in the depot, you must report the theft immediately. According to the national government, the following applies: “Has your bike been stolen? Then report it to the police”. This puts your bike in the bicycle theft register and the police can help search. Do the following:

• Online declaration: Go to politie.nl and report the theft. For this you have your DigiD needed.
• By phone: Bel 0900-8844 to report the theft or to make an appointment at the police station.
• Personally: Go to a police station. Preferably make an appointment by phone first at 0900-8844.

Make sure you have as much information as possible ready: frame number, brand, model, color and distinctive features of the bike. Also include where and when the bike was stolen. This information helps the police and your insurer search and claim.

3. Report your bike as stolen to BIKEBAZE

After the declaration, you can also register your bike free of charge in the BIKEBAZE stolen bike database. By marking your bike online, others know that your bike has been stolen. ANWB recommends registering bicycles online so that it is clear that they are “known online”. Here's how it works:

• Report the theft: Log in to BIKEBAZE and enter via the report form indicate that your bike has been stolen.
• Don't have an account yet? Register your bike in your name with a unique frame number and create an account. Then you can use the bike as mark stolen.

By adding your stolen bike to the BIKEBAZE database, scans and buyers can perform checks that help you find your bike or deter thieves.

4. Check sales sites and social media

Keep an eye on ads on second-hand platforms. Many thieves try to resell stolen bicycles quickly. Go daily to sites like Marketplace, Facebook Marketplace, Used and eBay, and search by brand, type, color, and other landmarks of your bike.

• Is there an ad that matches your bike? Then call the police immediately. Never say it's your bike and do business not self-action, to prevent dangerous situations.
• Hint: Make use of checksites such as (even when purchasing) Stop Healing or the RDW bicycle theft register to check whether a bicycle is registered as stolen.

5. Contact your insurer

If you have bicycle insurance or coverage, report the theft to your insurer as soon as possible. You often have to provide the following items:

• Police report: a copy of the report.
• Frame number: make sure you have noted the (unique) frame number. This is usually on the proof of purchase or in the declaration form.
• Proof of lock: show that your bike was locked at the time of theft. For example, a photo or purchase receipt of the lock.

With these documents, the insurer can process the claim. You will often receive (partial) compensation for your stolen bike.

6. Prevent it from happening again

Finally, make it as difficult as possible for thieves in the future. ANWB and the police provide the following prevention tips:

• Use two ART-approved locks: Ideally, a ring lock and an extra chain lock or U-lock. Attach both locks to a solid, fixed object such as a bike rack or pole. An ART-2 lock is the minimum for short stables, an ART-3 offers extra security.
• Choose safe parking facilities: Preferably park your bike in a secured (paid) bike park or in a very busy place. Never leave your bike unattended in a dark alley for long (night).
• Register & mark your bike: Register your bike with a registration platform (such as BIKEBAZE) and paste a BIKEBAZE SafeTag on the frame. This makes it immediately clear that the bike is known online. According to BIKEBAZE, this significantly reduces the risk of theft.

These measures make it a lot harder for bicycle thieves in Utrecht.

Summary: action plan

• Check the depot: Find your bike via Verlorenofgevonden.nl or call 14 030 (municipality of Utrecht) . ,
• Report it immediately: At politie.nl (DigiD), by phone or at the office.
• Sign up to BIKEBAZE: Register your stolen bike in the stolen database.
• Search online: Scan sales sites on your bike every day. Report suspicious ads to the police.
• Insurance claim: File a claim for damages with your declaration and proof of lock.
• Work on prevention: Use two good (ART) locks, put your bike in a safe place and stick a SafeTag.

Follow this step-by-step plan as soon as possible after the theft. This increases the chance that your bike will be found. Register your bike for free before any theft free of charge on Bikebaze.nl and consider the SafeTag system to nip theft in the bud. This way, you'll stand firmly in the saddle and make it a lot harder for bicycle thieves in Utrecht!