MTBers with expensive MTBs targeted by theives in the UK

[Greg Heil ✓ supporter]

Glad we don’t have this problem around here:

UNSUSPECTING mountain bikers are being followed home by gangs of thieves targeting their expensive bikes.

Rumours of the practice have circulated for some time among mountain bikers using the tracks at Ashton Court and Leigh Woods in North Somerset.

Avon & Somerset police have confirmed there is a significant problem and they are now taking a series of steps to try and deal with the issue.

An e-mail dated March 27 seen by the Evening Post from Elaine Collingwood, the constabulary’s Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for South Bristol, read: "There has been an increase in the number of burglaries and shed breaks where high-value bicycles are being stolen. It is thought that a group of individuals are targeting victims whilst owners are out and about on their bikes at places like Leigh Woods and Ashton Court, before following them home.

"Offenders are then targeting houses and sheds, breaking padlocks and also in some cases entry has been gained by ripping out the shed roof." The e-mail gives details of a burglary in Southville on March 27, when five bikes, together worth £16,000, were stolen. They had been used at Ashton Court the previous weekend.

Two people who believe they are also victims of the trend are Ross Terry, 38, and Anthea Hawke, 33, of St Andrews. They used the track on Sunday afternoon and were later burgled, with Mr Terry’s £5,000 Ibis Mojo HD and Miss Hawke’s £850 Trek 6300 taken from their home as they slept.

PC Greig Difford said: "There were 28 such incidents in March 2012, where bicycles have been taken from homes in Bristol.

"The owners of these bikes had been cycling in the Leigh Woods or Ashton Court area in the weeks leading up to the theft. Leigh Woods and Ashton Court now attracts many cyclists as it was voted the ‘best inner city mountain bike trail in the country’ and we are keen to put a stop to these thefts and bring the offenders to justice.

Read more here: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Mountain … story.html

[Corey Maddocks ✓ supporter]

Should be pretty easy to set up a sting on this one.

[schwim ✓ supporter]

I’d set up a one-person sting and beat them to death with a bike pump.

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