Recovery stories
Every one of these bikes found its way home.
Behind each photo is a rider who thought it was gone for good, and someone who cared enough to check. A shop mechanic. A police officer. A stranger who remembered an alert. This is what a free, open registry makes possible, and it's kept free by people like you.
- bikes registered, free
- 1.8M+
- stolen bikes recovered
- 18,592
- value returned to owners
- $39M+
- partner shops, police departments, and cities
- 1,800+
In their own words
Every story here is shared by the person who got their bike back.
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Someone watching Facebook Marketplace recognized and contacted me via information on Bike Index. We contacted Rochester Police, they set up meet and were able to recover.
Ethan Recovered 2025-04-29T02:00:00-0500 translated from English
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Someone bought it and thought to check Bike Index and see if it was stolen. She called me and said she thinks she has my bike. We went and got it and paid her the $100 she paid for it. So happy there are honest people out there. Thank you Bike Index!
angie Recovered 2025-04-26T07:00:00-0500 translated from English
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Someone found the serial number on Bike Index and called me! I had the bike back with me the next day! Wouldn't have happened without Bike Index!
Kirsten Recovered 2025-04-25T22:00:00-0500 translated from English
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The local police recovered it and called me. They must have used Bike Index to find out it was my bike. 6 years later!
Nathaniel Recovered 2025-04-25T17:00:00-0500 translated from English
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Someone from the Seattle stolen bike Facebook group helped me recover it by seeing it on sale on offer up. My partner and I then recovered the bike from the thief!
Daavia Recovered 2025-04-18T08:00:00-0500 translated from English
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Edmonton Police Service found a man riding the bike about 10 km from where it was stolen, intervened, and used the Bike Index QR code to get my information. It was recovered within 6 hrs of it being stolen!
Stephen Recovered 2025-04-17T15:00:00-0500 translated from English
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A kind person received the bike and used Bike Index to search it. Found that it had been stolen and got in touch with me to return it.
Vince Recovered 2025-04-16T20:00:00-0500 translated from English
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Police found the bike thanks to Bike Index.
Lindsay Recovered 2025-04-13T20:00:00-0500 translated from English
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I registered my bike on Bike Index as missing and posted on a Facebook forum for Burlington, and within a couple of hours, I got a text that it was found!
Erik Recovered 2025-04-11T14:00:00-0500 translated from English
Somewhere tonight, a bike is being stolen. Help it come home.
Bike Index doesn't charge riders, sell data, or run ads. Every recovery on this page was powered by donors who keep registration, search, and stolen alerts free for everyone.
Fund the next recovery
Monthly support makes you a Bike Index member: marketplace listings, a member badge, and perks that grow as we build them. Tiers are $5, $15, and $50 a month.
What membership includes501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 81-4296194. Tax-deductible in the US. Bike Index is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 81-4296194. Your donation is tax-deductible in the US. Cancel a monthly gift any time.
Every story here started with a registration.
Takes about two minutes. It's free, forever.