The theft of bikes is big business at the moment, particularly in Dublin where urban cycling is enjoying something of an upswing.

The popularity of the bike-to-work scheme and tighter purse strings are continuing to drive a push away from cars and public transport to bikes.

But bikes are small, valuable and easy to offload - making them the perfect target for organised crime gangs.

It is a lucrative business because the average spend on a bike now is anywhere between €500-600. 

Revenue's bike-to-work scheme allows people to spend up to €1,000 tax-free. Usually a cyclist will buy their bike, and all the accompanying gear they need out of that money. 

Included in that budget should be a 10% spend on security.

That is particularly relevant at the moment, because reports from the streets say bikes are disappearing more frequently than ever.

Proprietor of City Cycles in Fairview, north Dublin Thomas Russell says: "We are hearing from customers coming in that people were watching them on their good bikes and following them home, lying in wait for an opportunity or for you to go to bed before hopping over the back wall and taking out your bike." 

Some of the bikes gardaí are trying to reunite with their owners. Photo: Garda Síochána via Flickr

Russell says small time criminals will steal lower value bikes and try to sell them off locally, but it is organised gangs who are targeting bikes worth between €400-1,000.

He says he is being told that high-value bikes are being put in containers and shipped out of the country immediately.

"Gardaí have stopped a few containers leaving the country. people just think it's never going to happen to them."

"Most are going to eastern Europe. You will never see them again here. They won't be sold here."

"People think bike shops sell off stolen goods, it couldn't be further from the truth. People abandon cycling when they have a bad experience. That makes it bad for my business."

The bike shop owner says opportunistic thieves can also strike quickly: "It happens when people prop their bikes up outside the house and go in to unlock and turn off the alarm. They are coming back out and the bike is gone."

"You will get some people in offering stolen goods, but the organised guys won't do it themselves, they will send young lads in to do it. You would know from the look of them that they don't own the bike. It might be too big for them, or they won't know anything about the bike. We send them on their way."

Garda advice

Gardaí are trying to encourage owners to take note of their bike's serial number (you will find that on the underside of your frame), a written record of the make, and any unique features that the bike might have e.g. extra fittings, attachments, markings etc.

You are also advised to take at least one distinguishing coloured photograph of your bicycle. And include yourself in the picture, because that proves it is your bike.

Finding owners

They are currently trying to return 621 bikes to their owners through a new scheme that gives people the chance to view lost property online.

If they are unable to do so, they will be forced to auction them off. However, the gardaí are keen to point out that the bikes on view in their online gallery are not for sale, they are there to be identified by their owners.

Meanwhile, as a measure of how many people are missing their bikes, the Garda flickr account that carries the details of the bikes in custody has attracted some 159,772 viewers.

Bike security

Dublin City Council and bike mechanic Gareth Muldowney have produced these tips on securing your bike:

Top tips:

• Purchase a good quality lock. Spend 10% of the value of your bike on your lock - around €50 will get you a good lock.
• Bring your bike indoors at night.
• Never leave your bike unattended or unlocked.
• Some private carparks have bike parking - check your local area.

But the most important tip of all is to familiarise yourself with your bike, know the value of your ride.