London bike theft hotspots: Where are you most at risk of having your bike stolen?

Cycling is an efficient way to get around the capital - but is your bike safe? - (London Cycling Campaign)

New data has been published which reveals where in London you are most likely to have your bike stolen.

Cycling around the capital is often the quickest way to get anywhere, but bike theft has become a prevalent issue.

Now, cyclists can access up-to-date statistics on the number of thefts reported in areas all over London to see where is safest to travel to.

Website Stolen Ride has collated data to help cyclists and even has a handy interactive map for people to search specific postcodes and areas.

Stolen Bike released a bike theft map to help cyclists work out the safest areas to leave bikes (StolenBike)

Data is split into specific postcodes, and users can zoom in to work out exactly where bike thefts have been reported from, and how many bikes have been taken from the area.

The numbers are taken from police crime data and updated monthly.

But where should you be wary if you are a cyclist? Here are the top five hotspots for bike thefts in the capital right now:

1. Leicester Square and surrounding areas

(REUTERS)

This area appears orange on the map for having a higher number of bike thefts and shows 15 thefts within the last month.

A hotspot for tourists, and high footfall - the busy area has seen a number of bike thefts in Leicester Square and the surrounding areas, including Covent Garden, Piccadilly Square, Embankment and Tottenham Court Road

2. Bloomsbury

Direct international train services between London and destinations such as Germany and Switzerland could be launched amid plans to boost the capacity of St Pancras station (Alamy/PA)

St Pancras and Euston have seen a number of bike thefts in recent weeks, particularly near the train stations.

Data shows there were 13 bike thefts within three roads surrounding Euston Square in just two weeks.

3. Hoxton

Pueblito Paisa Cafe is part of the indoor market (Daniel Lynch)

The area had 11 thefts in the last month, but of these, seven of them were all from directly outside the City of London Academy in Shoreditch Park.

The others were from outside pubs in the neighbouring streets, and one from an estate near the school.

4. Dalston

(Jonathan Brady/PA)

The area saw 10 bike thefts in recent weeks, with the majority being in the surrounding roads around Dalston Kingsland Station.

The rest were all reported from Kingsland High Street.

5. Whitechapel

(Jeremy Selwyn)

Whitechapel and the surrounding area also saw 10 bike thefts in recent weeks.

Three were from the area directly outside Don Gratton House, a further education site, while others were dotted around the surrounding streets.

Others were taken from directly outside Whitechapel Station.