Bike thief strikes while owner picks up Christmas presents

[dutchman]

Thieves stole a bike from a busy part of Coventry city centre when the owner went to collect Christmas presents for his daughter.



Chris Patrick, aged 38, secured the bike with a steel cable lock by the side entrance to Wilkinsons in Broadgate at around 11am on November 28.

When he returned, at 12.40pm, the Boardman Road Pro Carbon SLR had gone.

Chris, from Wood End , had only brought the bike two months ago in an effort to start cycling properly and join in with some charity rides.

Because he bought it as part of a cycle to work scheme Chris still has to pay for the stolen bike for the next 10 months.

The 38-year-old said: “It was locked with a 15mm steel cable lock.

“I went to the shops to collect what I wanted and had a coffee and when I returned to my bike it was gone.

“The lock was lying on the floor - it had been cut through.

“I don’t know how anybody could do that in the middle of Broadgate on a Saturday lunchtime.

“I brought this bike through my cycle to work scheme only 8 weeks ago,

“I took up cycling properly and wanted to organise some charity rides next year. I spend around 10 hours a week cycling.”

The theft has been reported to police and officers have launched an investigation.

CCTV from the area has been secured and while the footage does allow investigating officers to view the theft it isn’t high enough quality to identify the offender.

Officers are currently searching for more CCTV footage .

If you have any information that may be able to help call Coventry Police on 101.

To give evidence anonymously call 0800 555111.