In the midst of a police operation in the Transmilenio transportation system, in Bogotá, a stolen bicycle was seized and a 21-year-old man was arrested.
The case was solved thanks to the quick reaction of the patrols and constant monitoring of security cameras installed in the stations.
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Authorities identified the suspect after he entered the 100th Street station with the bicycle, which had been stolen minutes before from the outskirts of a commercial premises. The owner had left the vehicle insured, which did not prevent the theft from occurring.
This was explained by Lieutenant Colonel Zuly Ortiz, Bogotá Metropolitan Police Garrison officer: “The National Police, through the TransMilenio mass transportation group, managed to capture a 21-year-old man for the crime of theft. Thanks to the timely reaction of the patrols and the monitoring of video surveillance cameras, this person was located. who entered the 100th Street station and boarded a TransMilenio bus, taking with him a bicycle that he had stolen minutes before from a citizen and who had left her outside a commercial establishment.
The uniformed officers intercepted the articulated bus where the alleged thief was traveling. Upon verifying that he was transporting the bicycle reported stolen, they proceeded to capture him flagrante delicto and present him before the corresponding judicial authority.
“When stopping the vehicle, the uniformed officers observed the alleged criminal with the bicycle, so he was captured in flagrante delicto and placed at the disposal of the competent authority,” the officer added.
For his part, the citizen who recovered his vehicle expressed: “I am very grateful to the National Police, the Bogotá Police and more especially to the Transmilenio Police, who helped me recover the bicycle today”.
The Police Mass Transportation Group, in charge of surveillance in Transmilenio, has intensified surveillance and patrolling at key stations, especially at points with high passenger flow. The use of video surveillance has made it possible to detect and respond more efficiently to crimes such as theft and fights within the system.
This operation is part of the “Security, Dignity and Democracy” strategy, which seeks to strengthen the police presence in public spaces and guarantee the protection of transport users. The authorities recalled that citizen collaboration is essential to prevent and report criminal acts.
“The National Police continues to carry out operational actions against theft in its different modalities. Likewise, it invites the community to report any criminal act through line 123,” Lieutenant Colonel Zuly Ortiz concluded.
Bicycle theft in Bogotá remains one of the crimes that most affects those who choose this means of transportation. Every two and a half hours, a bicycle is stolen, which reflects the magnitude of the problem and the need to strengthen prevention and control strategies.
The increase in bicycle thefts in Bogotá has left worrying figures during the last year. According to the National Police Statistical System, In 2025, there were more than 1,700 reported cases, which is equivalent to a robbery every two and a half hours in the city.
Official projections suggest that the trend will not slow down. If the current rate continues, more than 7,500 bicycles could be stolen by the end of 2025. This means that the inhabitants of Bogotá face the daily loss of around thirteen bicycles.
The areas with the highest bicycle use continue to top the list of thefts. Suba, Bosa, Kennedy and Engativá They are among the localities where the impact is most severe, concentrating a significant part of the cases.
So far in 2026, authorities have intensified operations. There have been 28 arrests for bicycle theft and 85 for reception. This last crime involves the purchase or sale of stolen objects, which shows the presence of networks that facilitate the illegal marketing of these vehicles.
