A thief who attempted to evade police by joining the route of a bike race in Poland has been arrested for stealing a bike and its computer.
The 20-year-old man, who has not been named, attracted the attention of police officers working around the Ślężański Mnich one-day race in the small start/finish town of Sobótka. Recognising him from previous burglaries, and suspecting the red Specialized in his possession had been stolen, officers began chasing him.
Wrocław municipal police also say the cyclist proceeded to join the course of the bike race, and overtook the main peloton to form the front of the race at one point, requiring police cars to also come around the riders in the race. Police also describe the man as having thrown away the on-board bike computer to avoid being tracked by police but that he was apprehended shortly afterwards, despite having been “almost standing on the podium among the riders.
Both the bike and its computer, which have a combined reported value of 28,000 złoty (£5750) have been returned to their original owner whilst the thief has pleaded guilty and faces up to five years in prison. Interior Ministry spokesperson Karolina Gałecka quote-tweeted the police announcement saying the race ‘leader’ had no chance of victory “because behind him rode a team [Polish police] that always wins” adding that the finish line was the police station.
Police officers meanwhile remained more stoic, reminding spectators to be “especially careful during mass events and to properly secure your valuables.”
The Ślężański Mnich is the curtain-raiser to the Polish domestic racing season, according to local website Notes from Poland. The 1.2 category race sees a mix of Central European Continental teams and Polish club riders race through the south west of the country on a course comprising sectors of gravel, cobbles and concrete. Despite the interventions of the thief and the police, the 148km race went ahead largely unaffected and was won from a small group Patryk Stosz from the Polish Voster team. Formerly of CCC Sprandi Polkowice, he raced the Tour of Flanders in 2016.
> Serial bike thief jailed – after stealing police officer’s bike
12 thoughts on “Bike-stealing thief attempts to evade police by riding on race course… and gets caught after overtaking peloton”
Never mind the theft, what has been done with that front stack should be an indictable crime.
I suppose there’s a chance the owner was experimenting with different stem heights before they committed to cutting the steerer. That would be my excuse anyway…
The thief should come over here and knick bikes. The police won’t give a shit and even if they catch you they won’t do anything more than give you a light fine.
“Ride it like you stole it”….. oh, wait, you did.
Up to five years in prison? Now that’s what I call a proper sentence. Over here he’d get a slap on the wrist.
Up to five years in prison?
I don’t know anything about Polish law enforcement, but ‘up to…’ doesn’t inspire confidence in the UK. There is said to be a fine of ‘up to £1000’ for MOT offences, but in practice it’s Zero (in Lancashire, at least) because the police condone the offence. Look up HN21 VXB, Marcus Wright Carpentry Ltd, parked for 2 days continuously 150 yards from Garstang Police Station and reported back in January to the human dynamos at Garstang Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Hmm. The Polish police – I had a run in with them, about 30 years ago. I was a teenager and a friend and I bought a cheap car and decided to drive to Ukraine. The Wall had recently ‘fallen’ and East Europe was open. Obviously, having spent all my short life up until that moment living in the ‘cold war’ I wanted to see what was behind the wall. Well, it weren’t pretty. It was grey, dull, industrial, smoggy, everything was overcast and heavy.
Somewhere in Poland, in a rural area, we were pulled over by a Police van. In very intermittent English and German (I spoke a bit of each) the Police told me I had driven up a one way street – which of course I hadn’t. They then asked me to get inside their van – which I did, foolishly, and they shut the door. They went through it again and said that I needed to give them some money. I said ‘no’. So they said ‘OK’, opened the door and let me go. They weren’t very good at the corruption game. Unlike some French rozzers who stopped me a few years later. These ones were cleverer. They asked to see my passport first and then told me I had gone through a red light – which I hadn’t. So the French police officer said I had to pay a 100 franc fine (pre Euro days) I said no, he said OK bye – and walked off with my passport. So I had to pay 100 francs to get my passport back. Now that’s how to rip off a traveller.
I think that’s actually standard behaviour in France isn’t it, for motoring offences as well? For French citizens I think it’s optional, you can pay on the spot for a reduced amount or pay later/contest it but the fine is greater if your appeal doesn’t succeed. For foreign motorists/cyclists that’s not an option, for obvious reasons. So although your fine might have been unfair, it wasn’t corruption, just standard practice.
Not sure – it’s happened a few times to me in France. I’ve been stopped for ‘speeding’, going through red lights and not indicating. But I’ve never been presented with evidence – either at the time or retrospectively. One time I was pulled over at a peage and, once the officer had my passport in his hand, told me I had been speeding at a certain location. Show me some evidence I asked. You can’t just say I was ‘speeding’ near Rheims so pay 100 euros. It’s BS. Recently I was pulled over in Austria and fined 200 euros for not paying a toll near Innsbruck several weeks previous. But the guy showed me the evidence – it was irrefutable. I had made a mistake and paid a hefty fine.
Love the Police Squadesque cliche :
“His finish line was the police station.”
Tonite’s episode : A Bird In The Hand.
Frank Drebin : ” Well Norburg. The only peleton he will feature in will be with the rest of the inmates down at the Stateville Prison.”
Freeze in laughter poses and cue the theme music.
Tonite’s episode : Murder Never Knocks Twice.
Drebin interviewing bike theft suspect at the station. Offers a cigarette packet.
“Cigarette?”
“Yes. I know!”
Shows the suspect a photo of the stolen bike in his garage.
“Can you explain this?”
“It’s a mode of transport. You sit on the saddle and make your feet go round on the pedals. Then people in SUVs swear at you and say you should pay road tax!”
Da da,
Da da,
Da da da da da etc
I think the thief should be given a deal, train and race with a team or be sent to jail.