Is There an App to Check if a Bike is Stolen?

Yes, there are several apps and online tools available to check if a bike is stolen before you buy or take possession of a second-hand bicycle. These tools connect to national and international databases where stolen bikes are registered, helping buyers avoid purchasing stolen property and assisting owners in recovering lost bikes.

How Stolen Bike Check Apps Work

Most stolen bike check apps work by allowing you to search a frame number (also called a serial number), bike chip number, or unique registration ID. When a bike is reported stolen to the police or registered in a theft database, its details are added to a central registry. If you enter a matching number into the app, it will flag the bike as stolen or show its registered owner.

Popular Apps to Check Bicycle Stolen Registration

BikeRegister (UK)

BikeRegister is the UK's national cycle database, used by police forces and the public. The BikeChecker tool is free and allows anyone to search a frame number or BikeRegister ID to see if a bike has been reported stolen. The platform also supports bike registration, marking kits, and a public stolen bikes list.

BIKEBAZE (Netherlands & Europe)

BIKEBAZE offers a modern registration and stolen bike check platform for cyclists across Europe. Using the SafeTag system, bikes are linked to their owners in a central database. The BIKEBAZE scan tool allows anyone to instantly check a bike's status by entering the frame number, battery number, or SafeTag ID. The platform is user-friendly, free to check, and designed for both prevention and recovery.

Stop Heling (Netherlands)

The Stop Heling app is developed for the Dutch police and connects directly to the official police database. Users can check serial numbers to check if items, including bicycles, have officially been reported stolen (hence there are not a lot of stolen bikes in, as a lot of people don't file a report). It's a trusted tool for preventing the resale of stolen goods in the Netherlands.

Project 529 (US)

Project 529 is one of North America's largest bike registration platforms, helping cyclists register their bikes and report thefts. The free app allows users to search for stolen bikes using a serial number and provides a community-driven alert system that notifies local cyclists when a bike is stolen. It's widely adopted across the United States and Canada, with police departments and bike shops partnering with the platform.

MyBike (Belgium)

MyBike is Belgium's national bicycle registration system. Belgian residents can register their bikes online, and anyone can check whether a bike is reported stolen using the MyBike sticker ID. The platform is integrated into Belgian law enforcement efforts and helps combat bike theft across the country.

How to Check if a Bike is Stolen

1. Locate the frame number: Usually found under the bottom bracket, on the rear dropout, or on the head tube.
2. Open a stolen bike check app or website: Choose a trusted tool like BIKEBAZE, BikeRegister, Stop Heling, Project 529, or MyBike.
3. Enter the frame number or scan a tag: Input the number or use your phone's camera to scan the QR code on any visible registration stickers.
4. Review the result: The tool will show whether the bike is registered as stolen, safe to purchase, or unregistered.

Why Use a Stolen Bike Database App?

Using a stolen bike check app protects you from unknowingly buying stolen property, which is illegal and can result in the bike being confiscated by police. It also helps recover stolen bikes by creating a transparent record of ownership that buyers, sellers, and authorities can verify. For bike owners, registration in these platforms acts as a deterrent and increases the chances of recovery if theft occurs.