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Wiltshire cyclist robbed of bike by white van men

Police appeal for witnesses following incident near Tidworth last Sunday

Police in Wiltshire are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist was robbed of his bike while out for a ride last Sunday afternoon.

The Salisbury Journal reports that the male rider was cycling on the A3026 towards Tidworth at around 2.10pm when he found the road blocked by a white Ford Transit style van with black roof bars.

A pair of men got out of the rear of the van and threatened the cyclist, who was forced to give them his black and yellow Scott CR1 bike, similar to the one shown above, worth around £1,400. They put the bike in the back of the van, which was then driven off.

Police say that one of the suspects is white and bald, and was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. He was also said to have a tattoo of a bird, perhaps an eagle, with wings outstretched.

Anyone who has information or sees a bike matching the description for sale at a low price is requested to contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or the charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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20 comments

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utm_swest | 9 years ago
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DaveE128 | 9 years ago
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A helmet cam isn't going to have any effect on this kind of thing unless the thieving little wotsits are incredibly dim.  2

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Wookie replied to DaveE128 | 9 years ago
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sean1 | 9 years ago
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Not in Tidworth surely, the UKs most desirable postcode....

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28918709

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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Scum. If caught they will no doubt get off Scott free as the courts are so crap.

Head cam, head cam.
Or a heavy D-lock.
My road bike has a tracker in the frame.

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
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Sorry, I'll switch the humour detector back on!

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J90 | 9 years ago
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Pedal in the other direction as fast as you can? Detour down some small roads/paths? Ride in a group?

Doesn't say they had a knife or any other weapon, not that threatening then.

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PonteD | 9 years ago
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This is scary, as once this story gets out there's going to be copycats all over the country.

Not sure about the rest of you, but if I'm on a leisure ride, I'd rather stick to some quiet back country lanes rather than main arteries, and I get the feeling that this is where a lot of cyclists go.

I truly hope that the law sees fit to throw the book at these people if they are caught, though I seriously doubt the police will put any resources into finding the perpetrators, as it's only a mugging and no cars were stolen, after all it's only a bike isn't it?  14

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drfabulous0 | 9 years ago
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Wouldn't you just kick em both in the nuts and carry on on your merry way? I would.

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Leviathan replied to drfabulous0 | 9 years ago
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drfabulous0 wrote:

Wouldn't you just kick em both in the nuts and carry on on your merry way? I would.

We aren't all as fabulous as you or have you anatomical expertise, good doctor.

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Joeinpoole replied to Leviathan | 9 years ago
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bikeboy76 wrote:
drfabulous0 wrote:

Wouldn't you just kick em both in the nuts and carry on on your merry way? I would.

We aren't all as fabulous as you or have you anatomical expertise, good doctor.

Being as they were just down the road from Tidworth Garrison there's a pretty good chance that the cyclist could indeed have been a soldier who likes nothing more than a good scrap ... especially under those circumstances.

It doesn't quite add up for me.

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Joeinpoole | 9 years ago
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I'm surprised by the location too. Looking at street view it's a wide straight road with a cycle path running alongside it. Not the sort of road that would be easily blocked off by a single transit-style van. Being as the two men emerged from the rear of the van I'd assume there might be a driver too? So that's 2-3 men and a van ... all to steal a bicycle of unknown value and condition ... in broad daylight?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.248577,-1.643035,3a,90y,86.51h,91.23t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sLOx98v5-DcLWOVNtm1q-7A!2e0!6m1!1e1

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Binky | 9 years ago
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Hope he doesn't have to wait long for his insurance to pay out.
That is if he put it on his insurance policy?

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chrisb87 | 9 years ago
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coming soon.....handle bar mounted tasers.....

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Dnnnnnn | 9 years ago
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Presumably the cyclist took the registration details. They may be false, of course, but this pair don't sound the sharpest.

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
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I'm slightly surprised this doesn't happen more often. Especially with road bikes becoming more popular, "skinny bloke in lycra on his own in the middle of nowhere" has limited potential as a deterrent.

@Mercuryone - I doubt they had any idea what it was - just that someone in 'cycling gear' probably has an expensive bike, in the minds of these neanderthals...

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WolfieSmith replied to notfastenough | 9 years ago
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"@Mercuryone - I doubt they had any idea what it was - just that someone in 'cycling gear' probably has an expensive bike, in the minds of these neanderthals..".

... Not fast Enough? Maybe not. It was a joke about only crazy people would waste time stealing a Scott... Jeez it's a tough audience. Hey. I'm here all week. Try the veal.  103

(and that is a reference to 20th century Jewish Catskill resort comedians - not an invitation to wonder what connects Scott bikes and milk fed calfs...)  29

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brackley88 replied to WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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MercuryOne wrote:

"@Mercuryone - I doubt they had any idea what it was - just that someone in 'cycling gear' probably has an expensive bike, in the minds of these neanderthals..".

... Not fast Enough? Maybe not. It was a joke about only crazy people would waste time stealing a Scott... Jeez it's a tough audience. Hey. I'm here all week. Try the veal.  103

(and that is a reference to 20th century Jewish Catskill resort comedians - not an invitation to wonder what connects Scott bikes and milk fed calfs...)  29

.....

Just so you know, I laughed out loud. Happy days.

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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Risking arrest for a £1400 Scott CR?! Obviously the work of lunatics...

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brooksby replied to WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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MercuryOne wrote:

Risking arrest for a £1400 Scott CR?! Obviously the work of lunatics...

Wow - so £1400 isn't worth risking arrest for? Come on, there are people out there stealing el-cheapo mobile phones, lead flashing, flowerpots... There are some people who will steal anything. And so a flashy road bike - even if it is worth only £1400 - is a pretty attractive proposition, unfortunately.

Or are you saying that at £1400 or below, a bike is just a bike shaped object so it doesn't matter? I hope not...

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