Chinese bike-sharing company Mobike entered the Latin American market in Mexico City this year drawn by its millions of potential clients. Now it has run into a problem increasingly plaguing the country: street crime.

Theft has been so widespread that in the past few days, dozens of the app's customers have complained on social media about the lack of available bicycles. Many of them told Reuters they are thinking hard about switching to the competition.

Mobike, the largest bike-sharing company in the world, said shortages were due to theft as well as growing demand for the 500 bicycles available in a small part of the capital while it awaits clearance from city authorities to expand further.