Bike Muggings

[Maz]

I had a youth come up fast behind me on a mountain bike persuading me to stop...

What was he saying to try to persuade you to stop?

 

[Spizz 23]

Didnt really hear him too well and I didnt look back either, but it was someting like , oy mate wait a sec, wait a sec, is that a ..........?, by that time I had left him behind

 

[Tharg2007]

.... banana in your pocket or are you pleased to see me?"

 

[mickle]

I was surrounded by a group of twenty youths in Hereford Cathedral Close years ago, beaten unconcious and had my bike taken. My pride and joy, a Rocky Mountain Altitude which had been built for the 1993 Vegas Interbike show. Serial # 93 SHOW 08. Gutted. Still gutted actually, I loved that bike.

 

[Morrisette]

fact is it really isn't worth taking the risk these days. i'm horrified at some of the stories I'm hearing here. Its bad enough we nearly get knocked off our bikes every day by mad motorists.!now we got to have eyes in the back of our heads looking for bike muggers.
I'm off to Amazon for some pepper spray

+1

My mate's sister was knocked off her bike by a gang of drugged-up girls and they proceeded to kick the bike to bits - a (surprising) happy ending to this though is that they were caught, prosecuted, and jailed! This was in Cambridge (coming out of the Elizabeth Way underpass if you know the area). I've twice had dodgy looking guys weave in front of me asking for money down there - I don't stop, obviously

 

[Wobbles]

Last Friday on my commute home I had some kids/teenagers in Lewisham (about 5 or 6 of them).. try to surround me, with one of them saying 'Get His Bike'... they obviously didn't think that a geeky looking cyclist like myself could leave them for dust.

Hey Ian,
That's pretty scary stuff even if you did manage to drop them.
Which part of Lewisham was this?
I live there - useful to know which parts to avoid

 

[John the Monkey]

It's a judgement call really -don't beat yourself up over deciding to up the cadence and make tracks though - quite often your instincts about things being "off" can be a useful survival tool.

 

[Maizie]

If he was on a bike, then I doubt he could have made a clean getaway with your bike as well.

Edit: Oh, unless he was going to leave his behind for you as a swapsie. OK, ignore me, should have thought that one through...

 

[ed_o_brain]

Sorry to hear that Mickle. Sounds awful.

I was stood outside the house once with my mountain bike, trailer attached, ready to go get some compost. I clocked three youths eyeing the bike up. In fact one of them said "what the f*ck is that attached to that bike".

I nipped inside to go and get my partners bike. When I got back, bike was gone and my partner was bent double clutching her stomach where she had been punched.

It had flashed through my mind that they might try something, but I thought they would realise it would be a stupid thing to do. The bike had a rack attached and was tagged. It was also an uncommon make/model. They knew I wasn't far away. I knew one of the boys lived on that street. I thought they wouldn't crap in their own back yard.

Initially the police caught all three of them. The CPS didn't have enough evidence to prosecute two of them. The third failed to show at court. Hopefully they will throw the book at him when they catch him.

The bike was datatagged too, and although the trailer was recovered (they dumped it), I never got the bike back.

 

[Morrisette]

Ed that's a terrible story! 2 witnesses, who recognised the scrotes, a broad daylight theft and an assault. How much evidence do the CPS need, FFS!! I don't know anything about this, but is there not an appeals procedure of some sort? Or a complaints procedure (possibly involving the Daily Mail)?

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Ed that's a terrible story! 2 witnesses, who recognised the scrotes, a broad daylight theft and an assault. How much evidence do the CPS need, FFS!! I don't know anything about this, but is there not an appeals procedure of some sort? Or a complaints procedure (possibly involving the Daily Mail)?

+1. Were you not tempted to take matters into your own hands? Not that I would ever suggest such a thing of course ..

 

[HLaB]

The worst I've had, touch wood is neds blocking my path; I tend to cycle on roads where it would be sucidal to stand in the middle.

 

[ed_o_brain]

The CPS didn't think they would be able to stick it to the two other lads involved. I mean, they were just 'there', if you know what I mean.

They were with the main culprit, they let him do it, they ran from the cops with him, and probably helped him fence it on.

I saw the bike since with someone else: I tried to stop him riding off with it, but by the time the police had arrived, I had a small laceration and the rider had gone. The guy I caught with the bike, couldn't be done for assault as he claimed he legitimately owned the bike and was defending his property. He also conveniently claimed to be of no fixed abode, so the police had nowhere to search for the bike.

The police had sighted him on the bike following the assault, but were slow to act. After the event, it transpired the officer dealing assumed the bike I replaced it with was an insurance replacement. It was replaced courtesy of my credit card.

To be honest, I just don't think they tried hard enough.

 

[ed_o_brain]

The CPS didn't think they would be able to stick it to the two other lads involved. I mean, they were just 'there', if you know what I mean.

They were with the main culprit, they let him do it, they ran from the cops with him, and probably helped him fence it on.

I saw the bike since with someone else: I tried to stop him riding off with it, but by the time the police had arrived, I had a small laceration and the rider had gone. The guy I caught with the bike, couldn't be done for assault as he claimed he legitimately owned the bike and was defending his property. He also conveniently claimed to be of no fixed abode, so the police had nowhere to search for the bike.

The police had sighted him on the bike following the assault, but were slow to act. After the event, it transpired the officer dealing assumed the bike I replaced it with was an insurance replacement. It was replaced courtesy of my credit card.

To be honest, I just don't think they tried hard enough.

The main thing is, that my partner wasn't seriously hurt. Bikes can be replaced.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

The main thing is, that my partner wasn't seriously hurt. Bikes can be replaced.

Right enough. It's just annoying that the CPS didn't take it seriously, especially as your partner was assaulted ..