The capital city is positioned as one of the best zones to practice the urban cycling. From a cyclist infrastructure to more ample events with bike as a main character, every time more people dare to take this transport. Unfortunately, with the boom of this recreational sport, bike theft in Mexico City is increasing.
Exists many ways to rob a bike. On the other hand, there aren’t many possibilities to recover it… at least a direct way that involve authorities. And in many cases, are the owners themselves that under their own research, can find and recover their bikes.
For that, is important to know the bike theft, and research about what can be done and should be done to avoid it.
Be prepared and take a good bike lock with you because today we’re going to pass by some risky areas.
CDMX, a great incidence in bike theft
Let’s leave the things clear from the beginning: A greater creation of cyclist infrastructure must include a greater bike safety.
It isn’t useful to implement more and better bikeways (well-constructed) if cyclists don’t feel safe to park their bikes wherever these bikeways take them.
Of course, more of these foster the use of sustainable transport in people, but if doesn’t exist safe spaces to park them without danger or possibility of being stolen, will be a few the ones that want to pedal.
In 2022, in Mexico City was reported an approximate of 5 investigation files of bike theft per day. This meant that in a single month, 165 people were victims of this crime.
The already mentioned was confirmed through statistical bulletins published by the General Prosecutor of the Local Justice.
Previous years weren’t so favorable. The same documents deliver results that in 2020, were robbed 1303 bikes. In 2021, the number increased over more than 1973 units.
This was an increase of 51.42% of this crime in that period: 3276 total thefts in those years. However, is clear for everyone that these numbers aren’t close to be correct numbers. Why? Easy: there’s a huge quantity of cyclist that don’t report the theft of their vehicle. Most of the cases are just a post in social media and in most of them the unity isn’t recovered.
Crime reduction
Bike theft in Mexico City has caused two important decreases.
Ironically, in certain way one of them promote indirectly the increase of theft in these vehicles.
But how this can be possible? some of you may ask. Well, everything begins with COVID-19 pandemic. During its most critical period in mobility reduction from April to July of 2020, bike theft doesn’t exceed of 100 at month. In fact, one of them got to 66 subtracted pedal vehicles.
Now, the pandemic provoke to lighten measures and new transport routes were opened, most people decide to move by bike. In fact, that growth evolved positive things, as the creation and then the stay of the Insurgentes bikeway.
Even though, the greater use of bike causes more bike purchases. A greater purchase of bikes causes more bikes anchored in streets, means, unfortunately, more robbed bikes. A proof is May of 2021, with a report of 314 robbed pedal vehicles, more than in the same period but a year before. On the other hand, the final count of 2021 were robbed 1796 bikes, while in 2022 were 1543 the stolen bikes. This meant a reduction of the 14.09% in this crime. And, again we repeat that these numbers are just the ones with formal reports.
Reasons not to report
Something even more unfortunate than bike theft, is the lack of seriousness that authorities provide to these crimes, and to the affected person when denounce.
Different cyclists confirm that when creating a report, their testimony and exigence is considered a joke for authorities. And is mentioned that whether is a 300 pesos bike or a 100 thousand pesos bike, authorities don’t take it as a matter of importance compared to a car theft or other crime. That’s why there are a few possibilities to be found.
Due that, more users through social media, sale sites or markets have found their bikes being resold. In the best of cases, they can recover their bike proving it belongs to them and face the people who sells it.
In worst of scenarios, there’s nothing they can do, and is true that sometimes have the necessary document to prove the property of the bike.
Sometimes, bikes are painted and modified to avoid their easy recognition. When talking about high end bike, people prefer to disassemble and sell them by parts.
How to reduce bike theft in Mexico City?
Exist many measures to take. The best thing is to have a U lock with great resistance, which represents more difficulty to these cutting tools. On the other hand, we don’t suggest chains or steel cable, these aren’t an impediment neither barrier for thieves.
Now, among the bike lovers exist implicit rules. One of them is invest, at least 30% of the total value of bike in the safety itself. For example, if your bike cost 10 thousand pesos, the best will be to buy a lock of 2 or 3 thousand pesos.
Another infamous but useful rule is make your bike harder to steal than the next to your side. If you have a great lock that involves several minutes and more sophisticated tools to cut, thieve will choose the one which cable or chain can be destroyed in seconds.
Whether you have a high end lock, cable or chain the important thing is anchor bike to pillars or fixed structures. Bike should preferably be parked in crowded places and don’t leave it alone for a long time. It’s also recommended to lock it in different zones or places, not always in the same place.
Safe bike parking
CDMX has bike parkings but another option would be set bike parking in strategical zones, office zones, public parking lots for cars nearby bike routes, etc.
A good bike parking help users to feel safer when knowing their bike is specifically for their protection.
If you’re in CDMX avoid to leave your bike in Cuauhtémoc, Miguel Hidalgo, Benito Juárez, Coyoacán and Iztapalapa zones, particularly in Centro, Buenavista or Polanco neighborhoods, these are the zones with most bike thefts.
More years in prison for bike theft in Mexico City
There’s no standard to punish theft of pedal vehicles. Now is intended to increase the years in prison to who commit this crime.
Currently, bike is considered a property, likewise, the sentence for theft is around 6 months to 2 years. However, Local Congress tries to add years to that crime, and have as a result 6 years of sentence for bike theft crime in CDMX.
