Brooklyn has seen a sharp increase in reported bike thefts during summer months, with cases rising more than 260% from January to June 2026, according to an analysis from bike rental provider Holland Bikes using NYPD Complaint Data.
The spike comes after Brooklyn has been on a year-to-year decline of thefts. When comparing the first six months of 2025 and 2026, bike thefts are down 23.5 %. That year-to-year decline, however, has narrowed significantly in Brooklyn, as warmer weather brings more cyclists onto streets. An analysis of five years of New York City data found that nearly a third of reported bike thefts occurred between July and September.
“Cycling is one of the best ways to experience New York, giving visitors the freedom to see more of the city at their own pace. It’s encouraging to see that bike thefts are lower overall than they were last year, although the latest data suggests that gap has narrowed,” said Eric van der Zanden, managing director at Holland Bikes.
Across New York City, 1,766 bike thefts were reported from January through June 2026, down 13.8 % from 2,048 during the same period last year. Manhattan recorded the highest rate at 45 thefts per 100,000 residents, while Brooklyn had the second-highest rate at 19 per 100,000. Queens was the only borough to record a year-over-year increase, with thefts rising 7.3 %.
Most reported thefts occurred on streets. The most common hour for theft was between 8:00pm and 9:00pm. Nearly one-third of reported thefts occurred between 6:00 and 10:00pm.
As peak theft months approach, cyclists can reduce their risk by using a high-rated U-lock, securing the bike frame and wheel to an immovable rack, choosing well-lit locations with high foot traffic and registering their bicycles with the NYPD.
