Helicopter fails to track down off-roading bike thief
Monday, 27th June 2011.
People off-roading on stolen motor-bikes have become a problem again around the Puddlebrook area and the police helicopter was out chasing one on Saturday afternoon.
A rider had been seen and chased by police, but made his escape, abandoning the machine.
There has been a rise in bike thefts again recently, and two were taken overnight on Thursday to Friday, one from Bloomsfield Road at Hanchet End and the other from Mill Road in Kedington.
PC Mike Potter of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team said he and a colleague searched in the wooded area beside Puddlebrook where off-roading with stolen motor-bikes has been prevalent and found the one stolen from Kedington in undergrowth at around midday.
Around 3.15pm, as a result of information received, they returned to the area and saw an individual riding.
"We gave chase but the rider made good his escape, having abandoned the bike in a field," said PC Potter. "The helicopter was mobilised to continue the search but without success."
The bikes were undamaged apart from their ignition systems.
PC Potter re-iterated police appeals to bike-owners to put them safely in garages or sheds and not leave them on forecourts or in gardens.
"People have to realise the thieves will enter gardens and steal the bikes," he said.
Also police want the public to help by reporting anyone riding on a footpath or without a protective helmet as they are likely to be riding a stolen bike.
This enables police to track the bikes down quickly as happened on Saturday.
"The quicker we can get to them the less chance there is that they will be damaged," said PC Potter.
The rider who escaped is described as male, white 5ft 8in to 5ft 9in, of slim to medium build with short dirty blond hair and clean shaven.
He was wearing a waist-length black jacket with grey camouflage detail and grey jogging bottoms.
Anyone with any information should call Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team on 01284 774100.
A rider had been seen and chased by police, but made his escape, abandoning the machine.
There has been a rise in bike thefts again recently, and two were taken overnight on Thursday to Friday, one from Bloomsfield Road at Hanchet End and the other from Mill Road in Kedington.
PC Mike Potter of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team said he and a colleague searched in the wooded area beside Puddlebrook where off-roading with stolen motor-bikes has been prevalent and found the one stolen from Kedington in undergrowth at around midday.
Around 3.15pm, as a result of information received, they returned to the area and saw an individual riding.
"We gave chase but the rider made good his escape, having abandoned the bike in a field," said PC Potter. "The helicopter was mobilised to continue the search but without success."
The bikes were undamaged apart from their ignition systems.
PC Potter re-iterated police appeals to bike-owners to put them safely in garages or sheds and not leave them on forecourts or in gardens.
"People have to realise the thieves will enter gardens and steal the bikes," he said.
Also police want the public to help by reporting anyone riding on a footpath or without a protective helmet as they are likely to be riding a stolen bike.
This enables police to track the bikes down quickly as happened on Saturday.
"The quicker we can get to them the less chance there is that they will be damaged," said PC Potter.
The rider who escaped is described as male, white 5ft 8in to 5ft 9in, of slim to medium build with short dirty blond hair and clean shaven.
He was wearing a waist-length black jacket with grey camouflage detail and grey jogging bottoms.
Anyone with any information should call Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team on 01284 774100.
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