Bike nicked, Greyfriars Passage (London)

[JamesAC]

I'm really sorry I couldn't do more. I was walking up Newgate St towards St Bartholomew's hospital, when I noticed three yoofs, one on a BMX sort of thing, and two on a hybrid. They circled, like vultures, near the bike stands adjacent to Greyfriars Passage. Then one of them, a yoof of about 17, dark complexion, baseball cap, jumps of his mate's bike, whips out a pair of cutters (no bigger than kitchen scissors) and has chopped through a bike lock before you can say Jack Robinson. I jumped in front of him, and grabbed the handlebars of the bike he'd just "liberated". I asked the yoof what he was doing. He said it was his bike, and he'd lost the key. With that, he wrenched the bike out of my grasp, and was gone, along with his mates. I turned to a passing chap for assistance, but he wasn't in the slightest bit interested.

My wife was really cross with me that I hadn't hung on. I pointed out that a) I had no reasonable grounds for doing so (it might have been his bike) and his two mates were behind my back, and I had no idea what, in addition to wire cutters, they might have in their pockets.

As we walked off down the road, a guy caught up with us. He was a security chap from a nearby office building, and he'd seen the whole lot on CCTV. I think he intended to pass the video on to the police. Nice to know that someone was bothered.

So if it was your bike, and it really was nicked, I'm really sorry. But can I make a couple of suggestions?

a) Use a strong lock and cable. The one on this bike had a cable about as thick as a washing line. It took no effort for the yoof to cut through it with one snip.
B) Leave you bike parked in the highest gear you've got: it will make it quite difficult for the yoof to peddle off

James

 

[Jake]

(

 

[Maz]

Good on you for challenging them. Well done.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Get a fixed gear bike. Leave it unlocked and stay within sight of it. When it gets nicked, rejoice in watching whoever nicks it go over the bars the first time he tries to freewheel.

 

[Dayvo]

Well done, James! Good to see that someone's still prepared to have a go!

Let's hope the CCTV catches the bastards. If not, karma WILL!

 

[ianrauk]

yep, well done for having a balls to stand up to these people.
But as you quite rightly say, who knows how and with what these kids will react.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

Leave you bike parked in the highest gear you've got: it will make it quite difficult for the yoof to peddle off

What a great tip ;-)

 

[domtyler]

Sorry James but you are a muppet. You could have been stabbed by one of these little gits and for what? Someone else's, probably hundred quid bike, that they couldn't even be bothered to lock up properly?

If someone is threatening you or your loved one, or even a total stranger then by all means step in, but for someone else's piece of metal tubing?

By all means report to the police but what you did was stupid and irresponsible in the extreme in this day and age.

 

[LOGAN 5]

I'm with Dom on this one. You could be dead. These thugs can and often do carry knives and wouldn't think twice about using them. Just call the police next time not that they'll even turn up mind until the yoofs are long gone.

 

[Keith Oates]

James you did the decent thing in trying to stop them. It's easy to be wise after the event!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tynan]

coward's charter yeah?

take that approach and the yobs and nutters have won

always trust the man on the ground, he was there and we eren't

a well done from me, you did plenty, the fact that they behave like that in broad daylight proves that they think they've frightened everyone

 

[Bollo]

Got to go with James on this one. It took real guts to get involved.

Have a virtual nerve-calmer on me. .

 

[trj977]

Well done James, shame more people were no there to help.

Quote from Einstien, I think, and probaly not 100% accurate but the sentiment is there.

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.