The latest West Yorkshire Police data, made available on the Leeds Observatory has revealed that Little London and Woodhouse ward has remained the hotspot for bike theft in the city, with more than double the thefts than other areas.
From September 2023 – August 2024, there were reported 412 incidents, and 263 from July 2024 – June 2025.
The area has consistently seen double the amount of thefts than any other ward in Leeds, the second being Hunslet and Riverside with 131 thefts in the latest data.
Hotspot areas in the ward include the University of Leeds campus, Woodhouse Lane and the city centre.
James Shao, from Saxon Road, Moortown had his bike stolen earlier this month.
“I try to cycle to work when the weather is good, but I drove to work on the day it was stolen, and when I got home I found my shed broken into and my bike gone,” he said.
“I don’t have any CCTV and I called the non-emergency police number but they couldn’t help me. I looked online on eBay and Facebook Marketplace to try and see if the thief was selling it, but I had no luck.”
“I’ve made my shed more secure and upgraded my security by putting more locks in and I’ve fitted a Ring Doorbell.”
Since May 2024, Moortown ward has seen a small increase in bike theft.
Source: Toby AlmondTony Woodrup, from Woodrup Cycles on Kirkstall Road explained why bikes are often an easy target for thieves:
“It’s a low risk, high reward situation, bikes can be worth thousands of pounds and can be easy to steal and get away with.”
“It seems that nowhere is safe, the city centre is a common place for bike thefts, but also outside supermarkets and gyms. Some people are even getting their bikes taken off them riding along the canal, it’s reaching a desperate point.”
“There are loads of things that people can do to keep their bikes safer, if you keep yours in a shed, try to make it as secure as possible with multiple locks and alarms. Ground anchors and diamond rated locks are good.”
Source: Toby AlmondYousuf Afzal, from Blenheim Avenue, Woodhouse said: “It doesn’t feel like there is less bike crime. I haven’t had any stolen myself, but I tell my children to be careful with their bikes when they are playing.”
You can register your bike on the national register BikeRegister via the Leeds City Council website to protect it against theft and to help police recover your bike if stolen.
The council and West Yorkshire Police run BikeRegister events at schools, workplaces and in communities across Leeds throughout the year.
You can find more information about bike safety on the West Yorkshire Police website.
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