Be careful out there - bikejacking
Discussion
Just seen this FB post from one of my mates...
"Just got back from A&E Wigan hospital this morning. Head neck and chest CT scan, ankle X-ray and another chest X-ray. Fortunately only a broken rib, extremely sore neck, back, hip, strained ankle, deep cuts on my left shin and a sprained right wrist and a lot of discomfort.
The story is I was out for a local bike ride and some scuffers have spotted me and wanted the bike. It would appear the low life would go to any lengths to steal my bike. The incident occurred when I was going down a single track country lane (long heys lane). I noticed the car behind but it was only when I got to a section with no houses that they rammed me and knocked me off. I ploughed head first into the steep embankment and when I came to they were trying to wrestle the bike into the black merc WD16. I attempted to approach them but the larger one of the three waived what can only be described as a short sword. They all had scouse accents and warned me not to approach as it wasn’t worth it. as it was a small merc the bike was to big and heavy to put inside so the armed one jumped on it and managed to get off down the hill followed by the two in the car. I immediately called the police and was attended to by paramedics who thought it best to immobilise my head and neck.
The Poc helmet and knee pads certainly reduced the severity of my injuries and are now only worth consigning to the bin. The police seized all my outer clothing and Camelbak for forensic evidence as I may have come into contact with the criminal’s clothing. They said I would be contacted by CID owing to the severity of the crime and possible links to other similar incidents.
The bike is a Giant Reign E+1. However, it is unique in that the frame was changed under warranty for the higher spec E+0 bike and is metallic green and not light grey. frame No. below if it is ever recovered. It would appear that the three muppets have been committing similar bike thefts in the area using similar cars and the false plate starting in WD16. The crime they have committed, armed robbery and using a vehicle by any means as a weapon suggests these people are escalating the severity each time. I think I was quite fortunate that they didn’t run me over and kill me! Please share the info around. I intend to contact the bike shop and report the incident so that hopefully Giant become aware of it and the bike’s details are shared around other bike networks."
So, if you see a suspicious Giant Reign E+1 for sale in the North West, contact police
"Just got back from A&E Wigan hospital this morning. Head neck and chest CT scan, ankle X-ray and another chest X-ray. Fortunately only a broken rib, extremely sore neck, back, hip, strained ankle, deep cuts on my left shin and a sprained right wrist and a lot of discomfort.
The story is I was out for a local bike ride and some scuffers have spotted me and wanted the bike. It would appear the low life would go to any lengths to steal my bike. The incident occurred when I was going down a single track country lane (long heys lane). I noticed the car behind but it was only when I got to a section with no houses that they rammed me and knocked me off. I ploughed head first into the steep embankment and when I came to they were trying to wrestle the bike into the black merc WD16. I attempted to approach them but the larger one of the three waived what can only be described as a short sword. They all had scouse accents and warned me not to approach as it wasn’t worth it. as it was a small merc the bike was to big and heavy to put inside so the armed one jumped on it and managed to get off down the hill followed by the two in the car. I immediately called the police and was attended to by paramedics who thought it best to immobilise my head and neck.
The Poc helmet and knee pads certainly reduced the severity of my injuries and are now only worth consigning to the bin. The police seized all my outer clothing and Camelbak for forensic evidence as I may have come into contact with the criminal’s clothing. They said I would be contacted by CID owing to the severity of the crime and possible links to other similar incidents.
The bike is a Giant Reign E+1. However, it is unique in that the frame was changed under warranty for the higher spec E+0 bike and is metallic green and not light grey. frame No. below if it is ever recovered. It would appear that the three muppets have been committing similar bike thefts in the area using similar cars and the false plate starting in WD16. The crime they have committed, armed robbery and using a vehicle by any means as a weapon suggests these people are escalating the severity each time. I think I was quite fortunate that they didn’t run me over and kill me! Please share the info around. I intend to contact the bike shop and report the incident so that hopefully Giant become aware of it and the bike’s details are shared around other bike networks."
So, if you see a suspicious Giant Reign E+1 for sale in the North West, contact police
My cousin had similar when he had his Willier road bike stolen off him in Bromley/Orpington area. Ended up with a broken wrist and bruised ribs when they rammed him with a scooter.
Apparently quite a common occurrence in that area, all linked to a certain community so police can't be bothered with the hassle.
Not heard of it really happening in my area but I do tend to only ride my nice bike when I'm riding in a group.
Apparently quite a common occurrence in that area, all linked to a certain community so police can't be bothered with the hassle.
Not heard of it really happening in my area but I do tend to only ride my nice bike when I'm riding in a group.
I was bikejacked earlier this year. Different circumstances, jumped by a group of 5 or 6 whilst I was on an unlit towpath in the early evening. They wouldn't have had any idea what I was riding, so not targeted in that sense.
It's certainly changed my bike habits and I now cycle with a lot of paranoia, but that will hopefully fade with time.
I would have thought driving into a bike could cause damage to the very item they are targeting, but perhaps that would be thinking too far ahead!
It's certainly changed my bike habits and I now cycle with a lot of paranoia, but that will hopefully fade with time.
I would have thought driving into a bike could cause damage to the very item they are targeting, but perhaps that would be thinking too far ahead!
fiatpower said:
There's one area of canal path in the small heath area of Birmingham where people are regularly bikejacked so I make sure to avoid it. Shame as it increases my commute by 25% and have to go on roads rather than the nice path.
My uncle got bike jacked here, 3 men pushed him off his bike as he went past, breaking his collarbone.His daughter actually found the bike for sale on Facebook, but obviously the police were not interested.
It has really affected his confidence and he no longer rides a bike anywhere.
gmaz said:
News from my mate in WIgan -
"Police have arrested them because a victim after me got knocked off but he had an Apple air tag on the bike and they tracked it and caught them."
That's me researching tags for my bikes now! "Police have arrested them because a victim after me got knocked off but he had an Apple air tag on the bike and they tracked it and caught them."
Good result - shame the scum concerned can't be deported to a Rwandan concentration camp!
Awful tonhear about this sort of thing but they wouldn’t steal them of there wasn’t a market, sadly there are too many people happy to buy a bike knowing it’s stolen or at least very suspicious. It’s clearly obvious these scumbags selling £5k bikes haven’t seen a trial in their life but people turn a blind eye because it’s a “bargain”
Joey Deacon said:
His daughter actually found the bike for sale on Facebook, but obviously the police were not interested.
Wow, really. I can understand that sadly they struggle to have the resources to tackle 'normal' bike theft from a shed or whatever, but surely aggrevate theft while riding it, with known examples of cars/weapons being used you would have thought they would be all over that. PastelNata said:
gmaz said:
News from my mate in WIgan -
"Police have arrested them because a victim after me got knocked off but he had an Apple air tag on the bike and they tracked it and caught them."
That's me researching tags for my bikes now! "Police have arrested them because a victim after me got knocked off but he had an Apple air tag on the bike and they tracked it and caught them."
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