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Luxembourg police are warning bike owners to lock them securely after a wave of bike thefts were reported nationwidePhoto: Pexels 

The full scale of the crime wave is not yet clear as police will not issue a report until the end of the year. However, one can gain a snapshot based on individual reports published on the Luxembourg Police press board which showed that from 9 to 14 August, there were 11 thefts and 1 attempted theft.

“We don’t know who the thief is or why they are doing this—whether they are selling them to eastern Europe and are organised,” police spokesman Serge Arendt told Delano.

The thieves appear to be specifically targeting high value sports and electric bikes. The list of stolen brands include Specialized, Scott and Ghost, some worth between hundreds and thousands of euros.

In some cases, the thefts appear opportunistic, with bicycles stolen while they're left in the garden or in front of a hospital. In other cases, they entered private underground garage spaces where owners had often left their bikes unsecured.

“It’s easy to steal a bike,” Arendt pointed out, adding: “If you go to a big residence of 40 or 50 apartments, ring the doorbell and go into the open garage area, you see the bikes next to the cars. People leave their bikes unlocked! They think 'it’s in my residence, it’s safe.' But someone only has to press a button and they are out.”

Thus far, the only stolen bike that has been retrieved was when a man was caught in flight in Schléiwenhaff (Leudelange) on 11 August. A witness contacted police who arrested the man and returned the bike to its owner.

Bike thefts reached a peak in 2016 when 186 bikes were reported stolen, up from 124 the year before. Figures for the year 2017 will not be published until early 2018.

Arendt urged bike owners to invest in secure anti-theft devices and use them, even at home.

Bike owners can also code their bikes free of charge with Luxembourg Police. To find out more, visit your local police station.

During the month of July, Luxembourg police found two bikes of models Bjorka and Jumper Trek.