Bicycle theft is one of the most common property crimes of all. Every year countless bikes disappear from stations, backyards, cellars and bike racks – and only a small proportion ever finds its way back to the owner. A good bicycle is expensive, and the frustration when it is gone is correspondingly great.

If you are searching for "bicycle stolen – what to do" or "bike theft", you are in the right place. This page covers the key steps and explains how GLOBALBACK helps with two separate building blocks: the GBID for return by an honest finder, and the GLOBALBACK cloud, in which your bicycle can be registered by its frame number.

1 Bicycle stolen – the first steps

  • File a report: Report the theft to the police. The frame number is the single most important detail – it identifies your bike uniquely.
  • Inform your insurer: Check whether your bike is covered by home contents or a separate bicycle policy, and report the loss promptly.
  • Check the area and the platforms: Stolen bikes frequently reappear on second-hand platforms or at flea markets. A watchful eye can pay off.
  • Set the status: If your bicycle is registered in the GLOBALBACK cloud, set it to "Stolen" now.
Important: The frame number is the central identifier of your bicycle. It is usually stamped into the frame – often near the bottom bracket, on the seat tube or on the rear dropout – and also appears on your purchase documents. Note it down as soon as possible.

2 Why so few bicycles come back

The underlying problem: many recovered bikes cannot be matched to an owner, because nobody knows or has documented the frame number. A found bicycle tells its finder nothing about the owner – there is no name, no number, no way to make contact. This is exactly where a marking helps, solving both problems: identification through a registered number, and direct contact through the finder.

3 Building block 1: the GBID – your line to the finder

The GLOBALBACK identification number (GBID) marks your bicycle with a globally unique number, for example as a sturdy marking on the frame. An honest finder immediately sees that the bike can be returned, without your personal data becoming visible.

How the return works

The finder enters the GBID on the GLOBALBACK home page or scans a QR code – no app, no registration. Through a contact form they send you a message, which reaches you by email. Your contact details stay protected.

4 Building block 2: the GLOBALBACK cloud – your bike by its frame number

Independently of the GBID, you can register your bicycle in the GLOBALBACK cloud. You enter it with its frame number and give it a status – such as "For sale", "Not for sale", "Lost" or "Stolen". For "Stolen" you can store a police reference number, which the check portals display as well.

  • Clearly identifiable: Through the registered frame number your bike can be identified beyond doubt – for instance if it is recovered or offered for sale.
  • Checkable worldwide: The number can be looked up on the connected check portals – such as seriennummern-check.de, ebike-check.online, checkmich.online and checkme.website.
  • A warning for buyers: If your bike is marked "Lost" or "Stolen", buyers see a warning immediately when they run a number check – which makes reselling stolen goods harder.

5 Common questions about bicycle theft

What is the frame number and where do I find it?

The frame number is a stamped sequence of letters and digits on the bicycle frame, usually near the bottom bracket. It also appears on your purchase documents. It is the most important detail for identifying a bike beyond doubt.

Is registering still worthwhile after a theft?

Registration is most effective before a loss. But even afterwards an entry marked "Stolen" can help, provided you know the frame number – which is why you should always have it noted down.

Does this apply to children's bikes and cargo bikes?

Yes. Any bicycle with a frame number can be registered, and a GBID can be attached to virtually any frame – from a child's bike to a cargo bike.

Conclusion: so your bike does not become another untraceable case

The GBID is your direct line to the finder, and the GLOBALBACK cloud makes your bicycle clearly identifiable by its frame number and recognisable to buyers as stolen. Two building blocks that together considerably improve the chances that your bike does not become another untraceable case.

The solution is here – you just have to use it.