why do people steal bicycles?

OMG I totally feel your pain, my bike got stolen 7 years ago and I'd only had it for 6 months. It still bothers me tiil this day because I'd bought it for myself as a treat for my 18th birthday and a reward for getting my first job and paid for it with my first wages so it was really special to me, I used to ride it to work everyday so I didn't have to take public transport and it was keeping me in great shape. I chained it up and went into the post office to pay some bills, I was only gone for 30 mins and when I came back it was gone. I was so upset and I still am.

The worst thing is, obviously when my bike got stolen I had to start taking public transport. So 2 weeks later I was on the bus and I saw the dude who had stolen my bike and he was on the bike and I couldn't do anything because the bus was moving and he was going in the opposite direction so there was no way I would have been able to catch him. I was absolutely livid because he had ruined the bike taking all the stickers of in case it could be identified but I knew the bike was mine because I had changed the peddles on the bike a month before that were very unique (you know, to make the bike a bit more flash lol).

He looked so stupid on the bike because it was clearly a ladies bike and it was expensive and he looked like he would never be able afford a decent bike, tbh he looked like a crackhead because his clothes were really dirty looking and had wholes in them.

I'm guessing the reason he and other people like him feel it's ok to steal someone else's bike is because they feel they need or deserve it more than the person who actually paid for it for their own personal use or they just can't afford to buy one because they don't have a job. In that case I suggest they go get a job, just like the rest of us have to. There is no excuse really.

It's easy steal and easy to sell them on, you're bike should have at least 2 locks on it, ensure the wheels and saddle are secured within the way you lock it, also you need to think about the tools they use to cut the bike locks off, if you use thin chain then you are asking for it.

They steal things to sell for a few quid in order to buy drugs.

They usually sell the parts, it's really a shame cand I totally agree with you.

It's easier than stealing a car

So they can sell them. If they can't sell it whole they'll sell the parts, and if even the parts are worthless they can sell it for scrap.

To sell them, also for transportation purposes...

they want one