My bike was stolen — what is the procedure?

Direct answer

Report it to Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEE (service-public.fr) with the frame number — without it the bike cannot be traced or claimed; the number is on the frame, the receipt or your registration. Check FNUCI / Bicycode — fichier national des cycles identifiés (apic-asso.com), the bike register or lost-property route for France: recovered bikes are matched there, and registering yours now makes the next theft a claim. Contents or bike insurance pays with the police report; if they refuse, Objets trouvés de la ville / SNCF Objets trouvés (sncf.com).

Call firstPolice / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEE

Report toFNUCI / Bicycode — fichier national des cycles identifiés

If that failsObjets trouvés de la ville / SNCF Objets trouvés

🗣️ What to say

"My bicycle, [brand, model, colour, frame number], was stolen on [date] between [time] and [time] at [place], locked with [lock]. Photos attached. I want to file a report and get a case number for my insurer."

🪜 Step by step

Frame numberUnder the bottom bracket, on the head tube or the receipt. Photograph it now for the next time.
Report to Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEEOnline, ten minutes. Case number for insurance and for the register.
Register: FNUCI / Bicycode — fichier national des cycles identifiésMark it stolen in the national register; check it weekly and second-hand sites.
InsuranceHousehold or bike insurance: report within the deadline, with the police number and the receipt.
Found it for sale?Do not confront. Give the police the listing and the frame number; they recover it.

📇 All contacts

Police / gendarmerie — plainte en ligne THESEEOnline complaint for internet fraud, immediate receiptAlways — the basis for bank, insurer and platform🔗 www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R46526

FNUCI / Bicycode — fichier national des cycles identifiésBike marking register and theft declarationRight after the theft, with the marking number🔗 www.apic-asso.com

Objets trouvés de la ville / SNCF Objets trouvésLost propertyIn the first days🔗 www.sncf.com/fr/service-client/objets-trouves

Mairie — police municipale / services techniquesNuisances, roads, cleanliness, civil registry, lost propertyFor anything the municipality handles🔗 www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/N31

Médiation de l'AssuranceFree mediation with insurersAfter the insurer's written refusal🔗 www.mediation-assurance.org

❓ Frequently asked

Is it worth reporting?

Yes — insurance requires it, recovered bikes are returned only to reported owners, and the statistics decide where police put effort.

I have no receipt

Photos, the frame number, a bank statement of the purchase are enough for the report and usually for the insurer.

E-bike with an app

Report the location the app shows to the police; do not go alone.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

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🚲 My bike was stolen — what is the procedure?