E-bike theft in Rathenow: 5,000 euros in damage - police are looking for witnesses!

E-bike theft in Rathenow: 5,000 euros in damage - police are looking for witnesses!

An annoying incident occurred in Rathenow on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, which once again reveals the problem of e-bike thefts. On July 2, 2025, a woman discovered that her electric bicycle, which she had parked in front of her home on Berliner Strasse and secured with a lock, had disappeared. According to information from Rathenow24, the theft occurred between 12:01 a.m. and 6:20 a.m. The police officers from the Rathenow district secured evidence at the crime scene and spoke to the owner, who immediately informed the police. The value of the stolen e-bike is estimated at around 5,000 euros.

Given this current situation, the incident in Rathenow is linked to a worrying development in Germany, where the number of bicycle and e-bike thefts is increasing sharply. As the Augsburger Allgemeine reports, the bicycle industry experienced a record year in 2022 with a production of 1.72 million e-bikes. E-bikes are particularly attractive to thieves because they are often in higher price ranges. Thefts of bikes worth over 2,500 euros increased by 54% in 2022.

Growing threat in the region

The police are calling on the population to be particularly vigilant. Witnesses who noticed suspicious people or vehicles on Berliner Straße on the night in question are asked to report to the Havelland police station. Investigations into the case have already begun. According to Presseportal.de, the e-bike theft has also affected other cities, such as Wolfsburg. Two high-quality e-bikes were recently stolen from a bicycle shed there. Three suspects aged 16, 24 and 25 were taken into custody by the police; the investigation is ongoing.

For e-bike owners, it is advisable to consider insurance in addition to a high-quality lock, as the likelihood of getting a stolen e-bike back is low. Police statistics show alarming figures that indicate that only a small proportion of thefts are solved. A total of around 265,600 bicycles and e-bikes were stolen in 2022 - an increase of 13.7% compared to the previous year. The number of unreported cases is estimated to be two to three times as high.

In view of the increasing numbers and incidents, it is to be hoped that the authorities will take the necessary measures to put a stop to e-bike thefts. Particularly in cities like Rathenow, where the threat from bicycle thieves appears to be high, cooperation between citizens and the police is essential. Take this warning seriously and stay vigilant!