An e-bike is a purchase that quickly runs into several thousand – and unfortunately a popular target for thieves. Whether outside a supermarket, at a station or from a cellar, pedelecs and e-bikes disappear frequently, and it hurts when a prized machine is suddenly gone.

If you are searching for "e-bike stolen – what to do" or "pedelec theft", you will find the key steps here. You will also learn how GLOBALBACK helps with two separate building blocks: the GBID for return by an honest finder, and the GLOBALBACK cloud, in which an e-bike can be registered with all of its components.

1 E-bike stolen – the first steps

  • File a report: Report the theft to the police straight away. You will need the frame number and ideally the numbers of the other components.
  • Inform your insurer: Many e-bikes are covered by a specialist bicycle policy or an extended home contents policy. Report the loss promptly.
  • Search the area: Stolen bikes are sometimes parked nearby or stripped for parts. A look around the neighbourhood and at local selling platforms can pay off.
  • Set the status: If you registered your e-bike in the GLOBALBACK cloud, set it to "Stolen" now.
Important: The frame number is the central identifier of your e-bike. It is usually stamped into the frame (often near the bottom bracket) and also appears on your purchase documents. Note it down – along with the numbers of the motor, battery and display – as soon as possible.

2 Why e-bikes are particularly at risk

E-bikes are valuable, mobile and easy to resell – an attractive combination for thieves. Stolen bikes are frequently stripped and sold as individual parts, because a frame, a motor and a battery are harder to trace separately. That is precisely why it makes sense to be able to document not only the bike as a whole, but its individual components too.

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

If an e-bike is found or turns up somewhere, it tells the finder nothing about its owner. The GLOBALBACK identification number (GBID) changes that: as a sturdy marking on the frame it gives the bike a globally unique number through which an honest finder can make contact – 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 e-bike with all its components

This is where an e-bike really benefits. In the GLOBALBACK cloud you register your pedelec not just as a single item, but with up to four individual components: frame, motor, battery and control unit. Each component gets its own manufacturer, model and status. The frame number is mandatory.

You can give each component 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.

  • Protection down to the individual part: Because the motor, battery and display can be entered separately, even a stripped bike remains traceable through its components.
  • Checkable worldwide: Your numbers can be looked up on the connected check portals – such as ebike-check.online, seriennummern-check.de, checkmich.online and checkme.website.
  • A warning for buyers: If a component is marked "Lost" or "Stolen", buyers see a warning immediately when they run a number check – which makes reselling considerably harder.

5 Common questions about e-bike theft

Where do I find my e-bike's frame number?

The frame number is usually stamped into the frame, often near the bottom bracket, on the seat tube or on the head tube. It also appears on your purchase documents.

Can I transfer individual parts if I sell them?

Yes. In the GLOBALBACK cloud, whole items or individual components can be transferred to a new owner. That keeps the documentation clean even after a sale.

Does the GBID help with a regular bicycle too?

Yes. A bicycle without a motor can also be protected using a GBID and its frame number. You can read more in our guide on bicycles.

Conclusion: comprehensive care for your e-bike

The GBID is your direct line to the finder. The GLOBALBACK cloud documents your e-bike down to its individual components and makes a stolen bike – even a stripped one – identifiable to buyers. Two building blocks that together improve your chances of return and make reselling considerably harder.

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