Bicycles are agile for short-distance travel and ideal for getting around the city, but they have increasingly become a target for thieves. Whether electric, sports, or even traditional models, some costing up to R$16,000—none are safe. In January and February of this year, 838 bicycle thefts were reported to police stations across the state of Rio de Janeiro, averaging 14 cases per day, according to data from the Public Security Institute (ISP). In the same period in 2024, there were 526 cases, representing a 59% increase.
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Robberies
The number of robberies (actions that involve verbal or physical violence) of bicycles in the state also more than doubled, although the volume is smaller: 80 cases were recorded this year, compared to 34 during the same period in 2024.
City of Rio de Janeiro
In the capital, the situation was even more alarming. The increase in bicycle thefts during the first two months of the year reached 106%, with 470 incidents reported in January and February compared to 228 in the same period last year. The police precinct with the highest number of cases was Leblon’s 14th DP, which registered 121 incidents.
Recent Case
Deputy building manager Milton Augusto da Silva, 44, an amateur sports cyclist, had his bicycle stolen on 23 March. A man wearing a surgical mask, jeans, and a white shirt used a master key to enter the building where Silva lives, in Catete, in the city’s South Zone. He went to the bike storage area, broke the wheel and battery locks, and fled with the bike, which Silva had bought less than two months earlier for R$6,000. The entire theft lasted around ten minutes. Last year, his previous bike, worth R$9,000, was also stolen.
Rio and Niterói
In the state of Rio de Janeiro, the capital, and the neighboring city of Niterói recorded the highest number of bicycle thefts. Based on reports from all police precincts, the 14th DP (Leblon) ranked first, followed by the 77th DP (Icaraí), 76th DP (downtown Niterói), 12th DP (Copacabana), 16th DP (Barra da Tijuca), and 9th DP (Catete). According to Delegate Thaiane Barbosa, the General Police Department of the Capital (DGPC) has a task force dedicated to jointly investigating bicycle thefts in the city. She believes that the stolen bicycles are likely being funneled into an illegal resale market.
Analysis:
The sharp increase in bicycle thefts and robberies in the state of Rio de Janeiro, particularly in the capital and in Niterói, reveals a growing challenge for urban mobility and public security. The 59% rise in thefts and more than doubling of robberies within just two months indicate a significant shift in criminal patterns, with bicycles—ranging from high-end electric models to traditional types—becoming increasingly lucrative targets.
The concentration of incidents in affluent neighborhoods such as Leblon, Copacabana, and Barra da Tijuca suggests that criminals are targeting areas where more expensive bikes are likely to be found, possibly feeding a local or regional black market. This trend may undermine public confidence in alternative means of transportation at a time when cities are promoting sustainable mobility.
