Bicycles Becoming More Expensive, Targeted by Professional Thieves
"Preventive Measures Such as Installing Security Devices Are Needed"
Office worker Kim (36) purchased a 6 million won bicycle last year after joining a mountain biking club. However, not long after, the bicycle was stolen near the entrance to Bonghwasan in Jungnang-gu, Seoul. He had locked it to a metal pole, but it was of no use.
The number of bicycle users has reached 12 million, and cycling clubs are thriving. At the same time, thieves targeting bicycles that cost as much as a used car are becoming increasingly active. According to industry sources on May 20, the price of bicycles in Korea continues to rise. Demand for road bikes, mountain bikes, and electric bicycles?often costing several million to tens of millions of won?has increased, especially among cycling club members. Shin Jeonghui (38) said, "Members actively compare the performance of different models, and the more expensive the bike, the higher your status in the club. That is why some members stretch their budgets to buy expensive bicycles."
According to the National Police Agency, there were 11,555 cases of bicycle theft in 2023, more than other types of theft such as shoplifting (4,126 cases), burglary (2,947 cases), and pickpocketing (247 cases). A police official stated, "Areas where cycling clubs are active or near walking trails with few CCTV cameras are frequent targets for professional bicycle thieves."
The arrest rate for bicycle theft remains low. In 2023, the overall arrest rate for theft was 66.9%, but for bicycle theft, it was only 37.7%. This is because such crimes often occur in areas not covered by CCTV, and the registration rate for unique bicycle identification numbers is low, making tracking difficult. Han (35), who had his bicycle stolen, said, "I reported the theft to the police, but I did not hear back for months. I eventually gave up, thinking the thief had already sold the bicycle long ago."
Some victims attempt to catch the thief themselves. They usually search for stolen goods on secondhand trading sites, but recently, thieves have been dismantling bicycles into wheelsets, frames, seats, and derailleurs before reselling the parts, making recovery even more difficult.
For this reason, experts point out that thorough preventive measures and the expansion of public CCTV infrastructure are needed to reduce damage. Kwak Daekyung, professor of police administration at Dongguk University, said, "The more expensive the bicycle, the more owners need to make locking a habit and actively use security devices such as theft alarms to protect their property."
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