There were 30 percent fewer reports of stolen bikes filed to the police in 2017 than in 2016.
The Groninger Internet Courant reports that there were 3,363 stolen bike reports submitted to the police department in Groningen in 2016. In 2017, there were only 2,321 bikes reported missing.
As with many kinds of crime, the fact that there are fewer reports being filed does not necessarily mean that fewer bikes are actually being stolen. The Stichting Aanpak Voertuigcriminaliteit (Tackle Vehicle Crime Foundation) says that there are likely 25 to 30 percent more bikes being stolen than reports being filed.
The foundation says that there may be fewer reports now because it is more difficult to file one: victims have to log in with their DigiD in order to submit a report. Bike theft reports are down by nearly 20 percent nationwide.
