If your e-bike has just been stolen in South Australia, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 as soon as you can, or Triple Zero (000) if the theft is happening right now or anyone is in danger. Have the bike's serial number, make, model and photos ready, and if a GPS tracker shows where the bike is, give that to police rather than going after it yourself. Then contact your insurer. This guide walks through each step using SA Police's own advice, with links so you can check it for yourself.
The short version: 000 if it's happening now, 131 444 if it's already happened, and 1800 333 000 (Crime Stoppers) if you have information about someone else's theft. SA Police say the sooner they're told, "the higher the chance they can track the bike", and they warn: "Do not attempt to retrieve the bike yourself if you track its location." This is general information, not legal advice.
Step 1: call the right number
SA Police's Report theft or burglary page splits it up simply:
- Theft in progress: call 000. If you've just seen someone cutting your lock or riding off on your bike, this is an emergency call.
- Theft that's already happened: call 131 444, the Police Assistance Line. This is the number for most stolen bikes, such as one that's gone from a shed, a train station rack or a shared garage overnight.
- Information about a theft: call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online. The same page says this is for people with information that may help solve a theft, not for reporting your own.
You can also report in person at your local police station, and SA Police note you may be asked to give a statement there. Their Report a crime page says you'll need photo identification at a station, and that police can't give you an update over the phone unless they know you, so write down any report number you're given. Having it isn't essential, but the same page says it helps an officer find your report quickly.
Why you can't just use the online lost property form
SA Police do have an online lost property report, but it's only for property that "was not stolen", doesn't need police to investigate, and is worth less than three thousand dollars. A stolen e-bike fails the first test, and most e-bikes fail the last one too. If the bike was stolen, report it as a theft.
Step 2: have these details ready
SA Police's Prevent Bicycle and Personal Mobility Device Theft flyer says to record the serial number, make, model and unique features, with photos from several angles. Those details are "vital for recovery", because police need to be able to prove a recovered bike is yours. Before you call, gather:
- Serial number. Usually stamped under the bottom bracket, where the pedal cranks meet the frame. If you don't have it written down, check your receipt, the warranty card, the bike shop's records or the brand's app if you registered the bike.
- Make, model, colour and size, plus the motor and battery type if you know them.
- Distinguishing features. SA Police specifically mention stickers and modifications. Think of scratches, a non-standard saddle, a child seat, a rack or panniers, and anything you've engraved or marked.
- Photos. Any clear photo helps, even one from your camera roll with the bike in the background.
- When and where. The last time you saw it, where it was locked, what it was locked to and with what, and whether the lock is still there (cut or missing).
- Tracker details, if you had an AirTag, SmartTag or GPS tracker fitted. Note its last known location and the time it was recorded.
If you never filled one in, SA Police's bike passport is a one-page form for keeping all of this in one place. It's worth completing for any bike you still own.
Step 3: if your tracker shows where the bike is, tell police
This is where e-bike owners most often get it wrong. Seeing your bike's location on a map is tempting, but SA Police's bike, scooter and skateboard security advice is clear: "Do not attempt to retrieve the bike yourself if you track its location." Pass the location to police on 131 444 (or 000 if you believe there's an immediate risk), and keep screenshots of the tracker's location history with the times showing.
A couple of practical points:
- Don't ring the tracker's alarm too early. Playing a sound on an AirTag or similar can alert the thief and get the tracker thrown away. Ask police how they'd like you to handle it.
- Keep your phone charged and the app open. Trackers that rely on nearby phones update only when another device passes by, so the location can lag. Note the time of each update.
Step 4: watch the second-hand market, carefully
Stolen e-bikes often turn up for sale online. It's reasonable to keep an eye on local second-hand listings for a bike that matches yours, but treat it the same way as a tracker: if you spot it, save the listing and screenshots, and give the details to police rather than arranging to meet the seller.
There's a good reason for caution. In January 2025 SA Police reported that a teenager selling his e-bike from home in Aberfoyle Park was allegedly threatened with a knife and handed counterfeit cash by a "buyer" who rode off on the bike. In that release, police advised people using online marketplaces to "always consider your safety first", to meet in a familiar public place (ideally with CCTV) in daylight, to tell someone where they're going, and to walk away at any time they feel unsafe. The same advice applies if you're buying a replacement bike: meet somewhere public, and if a deal seems too cheap or the seller can't show a receipt or serial number, walk away.
Step 5: contact your insurer
Call your insurer once you've reported the theft. SA Police say early reporting "is also important if you need to make an insurance claim", and that a written serial number and photos can help with claims too. Check whether your bike is covered under home and contents insurance, a specific bike policy, or not at all, and what your policy says about where the bike was kept and how it was locked. Keep receipts for the bike and any accessories, and photos of the cut lock if it was left behind.
Step 6: make the next bike harder to steal
Once the dust settles, SA Police's theft prevention flyer has a short checklist worth following with the replacement: a high-quality lock that resists cutting and prying, two different types of lock (for example a U-lock and a chain), locking to a fixed, sturdy object, storing the bike in a locked shed or inside, and marking the frame near the serial number. SA Police suggest using your driver's licence number prefixed with "S" for South Australia. The same flyer suggests considering audible alarms or GPS trackers, and taking the battery with you where you can.
Our guide on how to stop e-bike theft in an apartment goes into storage and locking in more detail. These picks are researched from manufacturer information and published reviews, not hands-on tested.
Knog Scout
Melbourne brand Knog's Scout pairs a motion-triggered alarm with an Apple Find My tracker, and it bolts under your bottle cage with anti-tamper screws. The alarm is the deterrent SA Police mention; the tracker gives you a location to pass on to police if the bike still disappears. It's rechargeable over USB-C with no subscription, but it only works with iPhone.
- Loud alarm can scare off an opportunist
- Uses Apple's Find My network
- No subscription
- iPhone only
- Needs bottle cage mounts
Apple AirTag (2nd generation)
Apple's second-generation AirTag uses the Find My network, so every nearby iPhone helps report its location, which works well in Adelaide's suburbs and CBD. It runs on a replaceable coin cell with no subscription. Hide it in a mount or under the saddle, because an AirTag on show is easy for a thief to find and remove, and its anti-stalking alerts can warn a thief that it's there.
- Large finding network in Australian cities
- No subscription, replaceable battery
- Small and easy to hide
- iPhone only
- No alarm or live GPS tracking
ABUS Granit X-Plus 540
A well-regarded D-lock with a Sold Secure Diamond rating for bicycles and ABUS's top 15/15 security level, at a weight that's manageable for daily carrying. Pair it with a chain or cable for the front wheel to follow SA Police's two-lock advice. Like other D-locks, it isn't designed to stop a cordless angle grinder.
- Sold Secure Diamond (bicycle)
- Light for its rating
- Choice of shackle lengths
- Not angle-grinder resistant
- Premium end of the market
For more options, see our guides to the best e-bike GPS trackers and the best e-bike locks in Australia.
FAQ
What number do I call to report a stolen bike in South Australia?
Call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 to report a theft that has already happened, according to SA Police. Call 000 if the theft is in progress or anyone is in danger.
Can I report a stolen e-bike online in SA?
SA Police's online lost property form specifically excludes stolen items and items worth three thousand dollars or more, so it isn't the right channel for a stolen e-bike. Phone 131 444 or go to a police station instead. Crime Stoppers' online form is for passing on information about a crime, not for reporting your own theft.
My AirTag shows where my stolen bike is. Can I go and get it?
SA Police advise against it: "Do not attempt to retrieve the bike yourself if you track its location." Give the location and your screenshots to police on 131 444, or call 000 if you think there's an immediate risk.
Where is the serial number on an e-bike?
On most bikes it's stamped underneath the frame where the pedal cranks go through (the bottom bracket). Some brands also keep a record of it if you registered the bike with them. Write it down and keep a photo of it with your bike passport, as SA Police recommend.
Do police recover stolen e-bikes?
Sometimes. SA Police say early reporting gives them a better chance of tracking the bike, and a recorded serial number, photos and frame markings help them prove a recovered bike is yours.