Bike stolen?
We'll get it back.
SAJ Recherche is a Ministry of Justice licensed investigation agency. We combine professional investigation methods with daily online monitoring to recover your stolen bicycle or e-bike.
500,000
Bikes stolen per year in NL
3–5%
Recovery rate without help
86,220
Police reports in 2024
48 hrs
Critical investigation window
Legal recognition and licences
Bike theft in numbers
€2,800
Average value of stolen bike
70%
Bikes stolen within 5 months
2.5%
Police clearance rate
236
Bike thefts per day in NL
€600M+
Annual bike theft damage
#1
Netherlands: most bike thefts in EU
The problem
Why stolen bikes are never recovered
In the Netherlands, 236 bike thefts are reported daily. The actual numbers are twice as high. Yet only 3 to 5 percent are ever recovered.
Police stop at filing a report
86,220 reports in 2024, but active investigation is virtually non-existent. Your report disappears into the system. Less than 2.5% are solved.
GPS trackers are removed
Professional theft rings know exactly where trackers are. Within 30 minutes the tracker is out and your bike untraceable. The average bike value is now €2,800.
Time works against you
After 48 hours your bike is modified, repainted or shipped abroad by van. Thousands of e-bikes are shipped to Eastern Europe monthly.
The average bike value has risen from €1,000 to €2,800. Professional recovery pays for itself.
Our process
Professional investigation in 4 steps
From report to recovery — our team of licensed investigators is ready for you.
01
Report
You report your stolen bike via our form with all details: frame number, photos, location and time of theft.
02
Analysis
Our investigators analyse the case, check databases and activate our network of sources and contacts.
03
Investigation
Daily monitoring of Marktplaats, Facebook Marketplace, 2dehands.be, Telegram groups and physical locations.
04
Recovery
Upon locating your bike, we coordinate with police for a safe and legally correct return to you.
Pricing
Choose your investigation package
No result? No investigation costs. All packages work on a no-cure-no-pay basis. Pay securely via iDEAL, credit card or PayPal.
Basic
2 weeks daily online monitoring. Ideal as a first step after theft.
- 2 weeks daily monitoring
- Marktplaats, Facebook, 2dehands.be
- Alerts on frame number + features
- Weekly status report
- No cure, no pay
- Physical investigation
- Direct investigator contact
Registration fee non-refundable
Extended
4 weeks monitoring + physical investigation. Our most chosen option.
- 4 weeks daily monitoring
- All platforms + Telegram + international
- Physical investigation Amsterdam area
- Direct contact with your investigator
- WhatsApp updates
- Police coordination upon locating
- No cure, no pay
Registration fee non-refundable
Premium
8 weeks full investigation including international and legal assistance.
- 8 weeks monitoring + physical investigation
- All platforms + informant network
- International: BE, DE, Eastern Europe
- Dedicated investigator + priority
- Start within 1 hour of report
- Legal assistance (Breedijk Advocaten)
- Insurance claim documentation
Registration fee non-refundable
Not sure? Call us at +31 20 782 3222 for free advice on which package suits your situation.
Step-by-step
Right after theft: what to do now
Speed is everything
Research by AMS Institute and TU Delft shows that 70% of parked bikes in Amsterdam are stolen within five months. Stolen bikes often remain surprisingly close by — but not for long.
Professional theft rings work fast and organised. Within hours your bike can be in a van heading abroad. The faster you act, the greater the chance of recovery.
The first 48 hours are crucial. Every minute you wait reduces the chance of recovery.
Your checklist after theft
- 1 File a police report online immediately (within 7 days, preferably immediately)
- 2 Note your police report number carefully
- 3 Check the RDW Bike Theft Register and verlorenofgevonden.nl
- 4 Notify your insurance company (within 3 business days)
- 5 Register with Stolen Objects Register and StopHeling
- 6 Report to SAJ Recherche for professional investigation — start now
Prevention
Prevent bike theft
The best theft is the one that never happens. These measures reduce the risk.
Two ART-certified locks
Always use two different locks: a ring lock and an ART-approved chain or U-lock. Thieves often specialise in one type of lock.
Register everything
Keep your frame number, purchase receipt and take clear photos. Without a frame number, police cannot return your bike to you.
GPS tracker
A tracker helps, but professional thieves know where they are and remove them within minutes. Consider it a supplement, not a guarantee.
Insure your bike
With an average bike value of €2,800, good bicycle insurance is essential. Pay attention to the ART lock requirements in your policy.
Despite all precautions, 500,000 bikes are stolen per year. If it does happen, we're ready.
For insurers
Partnership for bicycle insurers
Reduce your claims costs and offer your clients a unique service. Professional recovery as part of your bicycle insurance.
Why partner with us?
The average payout for e-bike theft is €2,800. Professional investigation can drastically reduce these costs by actually recovering bikes instead of paying out claims.
Additionally, our expertise in investigation provides an extra layer of protection against fraudulent claims. As a licensed investigation agency, we deliver legally admissible reports.
- Lower claims costs through higher recovery rates
- Professional fraud detection for suspicious claims
- Service differentiation for your policyholders
- White-label reports for claims handling
Partnership terms
- Fixed rate per investigation
- Dedicated account manager
- SLA: start within 4 hours of report
- Monthly performance reports
- GDPR-compliant data processing
- POB 8779 — legally admissible results
Why SAJ Recherche
No app. No startup.
A licensed investigation agency.
The difference between a notification on your phone and actually getting your bike back.
Licensed investigation authority
POB 8779, licensed by the Ministry of Justice. We are authorised to investigate where apps and platforms have no authority.
Human investigators
No algorithm, but experienced investigators who build networks, observe and directly coordinate with police.
Legally admissible
Our findings are usable as evidence. GDPR-compliant, Wpbr-certified. Essential for insurance claims and criminal proceedings.
No cure, no pay
No result? No investigation costs. You only pay the registration fee. We take the risk.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly should I report after theft?
What if I don't have a frame number?
How does "no cure, no pay" work exactly?
Do you also search outside Amsterdam?
Do you work with the police?
Are your results legally valid?
Can my insurance cover the costs?
How do I pay?
Report your bike
Start your investigation
Packages
- Basic€49 — 2 weeks
- Extended€149 — 4 weeks
- Premium€349 — 8 weeks
First 48 hours are crucial
The sooner you report, the greater the chance of recovery. With our Premium package, we start within 1 hour.
Report your stolen bike now.
Every minute counts. The faster you act, the greater the chance of recovery.