Business & Technology
London e-bike thefts hit record high as market grows
SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO
News Editor
Nearly 3,000 powered cycles and e-bikes were stolen in London last year, a 21% increase from the previous year.
Data obtained from the Metropolitan Police showed 2,966 powered cycles and e-bikes were stolen in the capital during 2025, up from 2,448 in 2024. Pelion said the total was likely the highest on record.
The figures add to signs of rapid growth in London’s micromobility market. Transport for London recently reported a 50% year-on-year increase in demand for rental e-scooters in the 12 months to September 2025.
The city’s rental e-scooter trial has also expanded, with Lime and Voi operating across more than 1,600 parking bays in 11 participating boroughs.
Pelion’s wider study of European cities found London had the largest number of e-bikes among the markets it examined. The report counted more than 75,000 e-bikes across free-floating and station-based schemes in London, compared with 38,000 in Paris, 20,000 in Berlin and 18,000 in Milan.
By contrast, London had a much smaller e-scooter fleet. The city had 4,000 e-scooters, far behind Berlin’s 19,000, because local rules limit each operator to 2,000 vehicles.
Theft trend
The latest total extends a multi-year rise, though the pattern has not been steady. Metropolitan Police figures cited by Pelion showed 2,171 thefts in 2021, 2,216 in 2022, 2,120 in 2023, 2,448 in 2024 and 2,966 in 2025.
The increase comes as e-bikes become more visible on London’s streets through both private ownership and shared schemes. More vehicles in circulation can widen the market for resale and parts, while making it harder for operators and owners to secure them.
Pelion’s report, produced with Berg Insight, examined connected systems used in micromobility fleets. It said telematics installations in powered bicycles are expected to rise from nearly 2 million in 2026 to just under 3.5 million by the end of 2029.
These systems can provide location, battery status and usage data. In theft cases, operators and manufacturers use them to monitor vehicles and support recovery efforts.
Insurance pressure
Dave Weidner outlined Pelion’s view of the shift in risk facing the sector.
“E-bikes and powered cycles have shifted from low-value assets to high-value targets. Their portability and resale value make them significantly more vulnerable to theft than cars or motorcycles, and the impact is growing as adoption scales.”
“In that context, connectivity-enabled services are becoming a clear differentiator for manufacturers looking to strengthen their market position in this space. Many are already responding by adopting stolen vehicle tracking solutions based on embedded cellular connectivity, reflected in the growing volume of telematics deployments across the sector.”
“In some markets, insurers are already mandating approved tracking solutions or pricing risk accordingly. That dynamic will only accelerate. Theft is no longer a side issue in micromobility; it is becoming a defining factor in how these services are built, deployed and scaled in London, across the UK and Europe,” said Weidner, Pelion’s Chief Executive.
The data points to growing tension in London’s transport mix. Shared and privately owned electric two-wheelers are becoming more common as cities push lower-emission travel, but rising theft adds costs for operators, owners and insurers.
For fleet operators, losses can affect vehicle availability, maintenance schedules and replacement spending. For consumers, theft risk may influence where they park, what security devices they buy and whether insurance remains affordable.
London’s position is notable because it combines a large e-bike base with tighter e-scooter rules than some European peers. That has made the capital one of the biggest markets for electric cycles while limiting the scale of scooter fleets.
With more than 75,000 e-bikes already in free-floating and station-based schemes, the city stands out as a major test case for how operators, manufacturers and insurers respond to a rising theft problem.
Business & Technology
Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students
Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.
The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.
To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.
Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.
Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.
Business & Technology
Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years
The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.
The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.
A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).
“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?
“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”
The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.
The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.
Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.
An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.
What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”
It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.
Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”
The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.
Business & Technology
Warning of new rules for Aldi and Lidl after watchdog review
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.
This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.
“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.
“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.
“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”
The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.
Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.
However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.
All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.
They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.
With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.
The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.
The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.
If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.
The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.
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