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Video: Would-be thief tries to snatch bike from moving car in South London

Attempted theft happened on Tower Bridge Road on Sunday afternoon

A would-be bike thief in London was filmed this weekend in one of the most brazen attempts we’ve ever seen to steal a bicycle – given it was attached to a moving car.

The attempted theft happened on Sunday afternoon on Tower Bridge Road, with the bike’s owner, Musa, being given a lift home by his girlfriend Chloe after taking part in the London Revolution, reports Mail Online.

The thief, himself riding a bike, twice loosens the fastenings securing the Mekk Primo bike to the car’s rear rack.

Chloe told the newspaper: “Musa is doing the London Revolution bike ride this weekend, so he'd just finished 80 odd miles that day.

“I picked him up from Lee Valley and we were driving down Tower Bridge Road.

'There were quite a lot of traffic lights so we kept stopping and starting.

“When I noticed a guy cycling along behind me, I thought he was a bit close to the back of the car.

“But I just thought he was being silly - because if I had to brake, then he was going to hit me.

“I thought: well he can do what he likes - he's only putting himself in danger.

“The next thing I knew, we were at the last set of lights before you accelerate onto the dual carriageway, and I heard a beep from the car behind us.

“As I looked into my rear view mirror, that's when I saw the cyclist twiddling the top fastening of the bike. Just then, the light went green so I started to accelerate.

“From what I could see, the bike was still attached - so I decided to carry on because I knew he wouldn't be able to keep up with the car.”

The man dropped his own bike and ran after the car as it approached the Old Kent Road roundabout in a final, desperate bid to steal Musa’s Mekk.

“He tried to chase us for quite a while before giving up,” said Chloe. “Then, once we'd got a few hundred yards down the road, I pulled over because I could see the bike was slipping.

“I think he'd been watching from somewhere - probably because he knew there were a lot of traffic lights and I'd probably have to stop,” she continued.

The footage has been sent to the police, and Chloe added: “The focus for us is to try and catch the guy - but we also want to warn other cyclists and car owners to be vigilant.

“Musa has a lot of cycling friends who would be similarly gutted if their racing bikes were to be stolen.”

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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39 comments

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
0 likes

I keep a robust metal shafted pen in the cubby hole next the handbrake for such occasions as this, one of the best 'weapons' for in close work you can legally carry.

How typical though of the driver behind doing absolutely fack-all to make the victims be aware of what was happening, society really is down the shitter far far too often!

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LastBoyScout | 6 years ago
0 likes

Another reason I prefer roof-mounted carriers smiley

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Stubuoy | 6 years ago
3 likes

Another setup video.

who is so worried about the world today they purchase a rear facing video camera for their car but doesnt lock their biketo the bike rack..................? 

 

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet replied to Stubuoy | 6 years ago
0 likes

Stubuoy wrote:

Another setup video.

who is so worried about the world today they purchase a rear facing video camera for their car but doesnt lock their biketo the bike rack..................? 

 

Wouldn't surprise me. It's all about those viral $$$ these days. They probably brainstorm all day to come up with stuff that will cause everyone to get on the outrage bus. 

Avatar
Colin Peyresourde | 6 years ago
0 likes

"Hey!"

"He touched your bike......"

"Really!"

Priceless. The thief really looks like he after skag to be fair.

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brooksby replied to Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
0 likes

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Stubuoy wrote:

Another setup video.

who is so worried about the world today they purchase a rear facing video camera for their car but doesnt lock their biketo the bike rack..................? 

 

Wouldn't surprise me. It's all about those viral $$$ these days. They probably brainstorm all day to come up with stuff that will cause everyone to get on the outrage bus. 

Could be, but I'm beginning to wonder what it will take for questions over "fake news" / prank video *not* to be raised nowadays. I think we're becoming terminally cynical/suspicious, as a society. The death of history will happen not because people will believe anything, but because they'll believe nothing. Erm: IMO.

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700c | 6 years ago
0 likes

..which is why I drive an estate car.

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Skylark | 6 years ago
0 likes

A keen cyclist.

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timclarkih | 6 years ago
0 likes

serious question. I have never used car bike racks, really ... do these not have locking devices built in. Is that the same with roof racks? 

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