Two thieves wearing balaclavas stole a bicycle from the roof of a Volvo in Putney, south London, on Friday, March 13. One of the thieves pulled out a knife and threatened the cyclist, Tony Poole, during the incident. The stolen bicycle is a Handsling AIROevoS worth up to £8,000.
According to Daily Mail - News, Tony Poole described seeing a person with a balaclava trying to wrench one of the two bikes off the roof, with another man on a moped. He said that as he approached, the thief jumped down and he shouted in terror, and once on the ground, the thief lifted his shirt to reveal a large knife, taking steps toward him and threatening him before making off with the bike. The bicycle has not been recovered.
I had gone there to pick up equipment. We loaded the car, put the bikes on top and then we had a call at 2.30pm, but we had barely started when we had to check outside.
Tony Poole released a statement through his cycling team, Jakroo Handsling Racing, on social media after the attack. In the statement, he said that bike theft in London has become organized and brazen, crossing the line into violent robbery, and he reflected on the fear of the situation, noting he had never experienced anything like it before. According to Daily Mail - News, Poole also described stepping back as the thief attempted to pull the other bike off, and he was left shaking, questioning if the bikes were worth his life.
In a separate incident, two thieves on a motorcycle stole a motorcycle from a rider traveling at 100 km/h on the Acceso Sudeste highway in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The passenger on the thieves' motorcycle destabilized the victim and ripped the key from the ignition while both bikes were moving at speed. No one was injured during the attack.
I ran out and saw a person with a balaclava trying to wrench one of the two bikes off the roof. The first bike was already on the floor and there was another man on a moped.
The thieves stole the motorcycle and remain on the run. One of the suspects chased the victim on foot and opened fire but missed. Police have not identified or arrested the thieves in this incident.
Meanwhile, a gang of hooded thieves rammed a car into Colin Appleyard Motorcycles in Keighley, North Yorkshire, just after midnight on Wednesday. The thieves used a circular saw to cut into the shop's metal shutters. Six hooded people in tracksuits stole nine off-road motorbikes worth £80,000.
As I approached them, the guy on the roof jumped down and I was shouting, 'Don't do it! Don't do it!' It was terrifying.
The thieves loaded the bikes into a white Luton Van and drove away. The specific models of the stolen motorcycles have not been confirmed. Police are investigating the burglary and appealing for witnesses.
According to Detective Chief Inspector Mark Atkinson of West Yorkshire Police, extensive enquiries including CCTV are underway to track down the people responsible, and police are keen to speak to anyone who might have seen these bikes up for sale on marketplaces on social media. Police wish to speak to seven people, including the driver, responsible for the burglary. The thieves in this case have not been identified or arrested.
Once he was on the ground, he lifted up his shirt and grabbed this large handle that was coming from his waistband. I thought it might have been a pistol, but it was actually a large knife. The tip stretched all the way down to his knees. He took a couple of steps towards me, threatened me and was ready to pull it out.
It is unknown if there are any connections between this incident and the thefts in London or Argentina.
I stepped back, he gave one more attempt to pull the other bike off the roof, and the two of them made off on the moped.
I have never been in a situation like that. At first, I'm like, I need to stop this but as soon as the weapon is brandished, it flips it on its head.
I've got a wife at home. I've never experienced anything like it before. It was terrifying, I was shaking. You're thinking, 'What's at stake here?' Are these bikes worth my life and a limb.