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Transport · Germany
Updated September 2026

🚲 My bike was stolen — what is the procedure?

Direct answer

Report it to Polizei — Onlinewache (polizei.de) 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 Fahrradpass-App der Polizei / ADFC-Codierung (polizei-beratung.de), the bike register or lost-property route for Germany: 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, Fundbüro der Stadt / DB Fundservice (bahn.de).

Call firstPolizei — Onlinewache
Report toFahrradpass-App der Polizei / ADFC-Codierung
If that failsFundbüro der Stadt / DB Fundservice

🗣️ 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

  1. Frame numberUnder the bottom bracket, on the head tube or the receipt. Photograph it now for the next time.
  2. Report to Polizei — OnlinewacheOnline, ten minutes. Case number for insurance and for the register.
  3. Register: Fahrradpass-App der Polizei / ADFC-CodierungMark it stolen in the national register; check it weekly and second-hand sites.
  4. InsuranceHousehold or bike insurance: report within the deadline, with the police number and the receipt.
  5. Found it for sale?Do not confront. Give the police the listing and the frame number; they recover it.

📇 All contacts

Polizei — OnlinewacheOnline report, reference number immediatelyAlways — the basis for bank, insurer and platform🔗 www.polizei.de/Polizei/DE/Einrichtungen/Onlinewache/onlinewache_node.html
Fahrradpass-App der Polizei / ADFC-CodierungFrame number on record, theft can be flaggedRight after the theft🔗 www.polizei-beratung.de
Fundbüro der Stadt / DB FundserviceLost property, city and railwayIn the first days after the loss🔗 www.bahn.de/service/fundservice
Ordnungsamt / Bürgeramt der StadtPublic-order office: nuisances, noise, waste, registration, lost propertyFor anything the city regulates📞 115🔗 www.behoerdenfinder.de
VersicherungsombudsmannFree dispute resolution with insurers, binding up to €10,000After the insurer's refusal📞 0800 3696000🔗 www.versicherungsombudsmann.de

❓ 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

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “bike stolen what to do Germany”
  • “report stolen bicycle police”
  • “bike register Germany”
  • “stolen bike insurance claim”
  • “find stolen bike”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

📱Device stolen→🏚️Burglary→🚗Hit and run→🚇Transport card lost→

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