Report theft

As a rule, yes. Household contents, bicycle and travel luggage insurance policies almost always make settling the claim dependent on a police report and require the reference number. This is a contractual duty under your policy, not a statutory one — but breaching it can cost you the payout. So ask for the written acknowledgement of receipt under § 158 Abs. 1 StPO when you file the report; it is available on request and is the cleanest document to present to your insurer.

There is no statutory deadline for the report — it is possible as long as the offence has not become time-barred. The deadlines in circulation come from insurance contracts: standard clauses require notification “without delay” or within a few days. Which deadline applies to you is set out in your policy conditions; do not rely on a commonly cited figure. In practice, though, the rule is: immediately. Video recordings are overwritten after a short time, and witnesses’ memories fade with every day that passes.

Two things, and both are necessary. The police report documents the offence and has the document entered in the police search system. The statutory duty to notify under § 27 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 PAuswG, however, applies to the identity card authority — the Bürgeramt — and the police report does not replace it. Apply there at the same time for a replacement. Since 7 February 2026, the new identity card costs €46.00 from age 24 and €27.60 below that; the passport remained at €70.00 and €37.50 respectively. And note: the photograph has had to be submitted digitally since 1 May 2025.

In most cases, yes — theft is one of the offences that practically all Online-Wache services offer, although the scope varies by federal state. Two restrictions matter. First: as soon as violence or a threat was involved, it is no longer simple theft but robbery — and then the police explicitly refer you to reporting in person or calling the emergency number 110. Second: if you can see the offender or the offence is still happening, 110 is the right route, not the form.

Three things, even if the item is never recovered. First, insurance: without a report, there is usually no settlement. Second, matching recovered items — police stations regularly hold items that no one can match to an owner because no report with the individual identification number exists. Third, protection against misuse: a document or vehicle reported as stolen will be flagged during checks, and you can prove you no longer had it. The statistical clear-up rate says little about this.

The frame number. It is usually located on the bottom bracket, the seat post or the head tube, and is the only unique identifier of the bike. Without it, a recovered bicycle cannot be matched to you. Also helpful are a registration code, as offered by many police stations and cycling clubs, a proof of purchase, and current photos showing any distinguishing features. Also check whether your household contents insurance even covers bicycle theft — this often requires a separate add-on and compliance with lock requirements.

In this order: block your SIM via the emergency blocking number 116 116 or your provider, so no one makes calls at your expense or intercepts SMS confirmations. Then lock the device and erase its data via your account's tracking function. After that, change the passwords for accounts that were logged in on the device — especially e-mail and online banking. Only then file the report, with the IMEI: it can be shown for any phone by dialling *#06#, which is why it is worth noting down beforehand.

Not for ordinary theft under § 242 StGB: it is prosecuted ex officio. There are exceptions, however, where the request to prosecute matters — in particular for theft within a household or family, that is, offences within a shared household or the family, and for theft of items of low value. Because it is rarely clear in advance which case applies, the simplest approach is to make the request to prosecute explicitly, as a precaution, when you file the report and have it recorded. It never does any harm.