In the early hours of 26 April 2026, Silas S.’s* e-bike was stolen from outside a block of flats to the south of Freiburg city centre, despite having been properly locked up. Fortunately, his bike was fitted with a GPS tracker from Yuccie, an IT’S MY BIKE partner.

He reported the theft of his e-bike via the Yuccie app when he noticed it was missing around midday. The Bike Hunter team from IT’S MY BIKE then contacted him, the local police, and set out to search for the bike.

An initial analysis of the tracker data shows that the bike was moved for just a few minutes at the time of the theft and shifted a few metres eastwards. As this is a block of flats, it is not possible to determine the exact location of the bike at this stage. However, the data clearly shows that the bike is inside one of the buildings. The Bike Hunter team is lying in wait, patiently waiting for the bike to be moved again.

Patience pays off — by the afternoon, the bike is on the move again. The Bike Hunter team immediately alerts the relevant police authorities. Shortly afterwards, Silas S.* learns that his bike has been just a few streets away the whole time, near the playground at the old exhibition grounds. As officers are in the area, the e-bike can be recovered immediately.

The incident took a surprisingly swift and positive turn for Silas S. From the time he reported the theft to the recovery of his e-bike, it took just about an hour and a half. It will be returned as soon as the official investigation is complete.

Stock image: Adobe Stock

*Name changed by the editors