Just caught a bike thief red handed
Discussion
We have had a spate of incidents at the "secure" parking at our apartment. I was on the balcony and heard some heavy hammering downstairs, which is unusual so went to take a look where I thought it was coming from. Sure enough, there are two lads on the door, another milling around and a fourth hammering a lock on a neighbour's bike. Obviously I challenged them and they scattered.
So I ran through the the door where they went, and saw my bikes are also cut from their locks and missing. I ran outside, there are only two ways they could go and saw some kids on bikes in one direction. I sprinted after them, asking bystanders to call the police. I also asked a guy in a car to go around the other way to see if he could get to them quicker, which he did.
Sadly, when I got to the end of the road, I could see them about a 400 yards in the distance. I asked the Samaritan in the car to give me a lift in their direction, hollered at a kid that he was on my bike, and after a few turnarounds in the car, I bailed from the car and gave chase on foot as the thief had got off my bike and was legging it.
Long story short, I caught him and grabbed him by his right arm, put him to the floor explaining to him in no uncertain terms that I was not letting him go till the police arrived. He said he didnt nick my bike, but a lad with a blue hoody was riding it and abandoned it, so he got on and rode it. There was a lad with a blue hoody in the garage. I asked who the other lad on the bike with him was, he said he had only just met him but coughed a name. I suggested that he should tell the police everything when they arrived to stop himself getting into even more trouble. The police arrived, took some details and found another lad on a neighbours bike at the local railway station.
So they have at least two bang to rights. Difficult to say, but my guess that the kid I caught and others I saw were probably around 14 and the others would be about the same. When he police returned with them in the van they told me that they are known bike thieves.
Must admit that I am quite chuffed that at 55 I am still fit enough (or stubbornly determined not to give in to the pain barrier) to catch a teenager trying to flee a crime, initially on a bike with me on foot. However, going from a standing, cold muscle start to a very long sprint (about a mile) has buggered my Achilles' tendons...
So what happens next? They have previous. They were apprehended with stolen property minutes after it was taken. They have damaged some expensive locks on bikes and storage cabinets, and were caught red handed on two of the bikes, I actually saw one of them riding my bike and the Samaritan who gave me a lift gave his details to plod as a witness if needed. I found my other bike in another part of the garage unlocked and "ready to go", so I have only lost the locks as have others in the block. What deterrent is the court likely to hand down to them? Where does the age of criminal responsibility fit in?
TLDR: spate of bike thefts here lately. Caught kids red handed after stealing bikes. What will the courts hand down.
So I ran through the the door where they went, and saw my bikes are also cut from their locks and missing. I ran outside, there are only two ways they could go and saw some kids on bikes in one direction. I sprinted after them, asking bystanders to call the police. I also asked a guy in a car to go around the other way to see if he could get to them quicker, which he did.
Sadly, when I got to the end of the road, I could see them about a 400 yards in the distance. I asked the Samaritan in the car to give me a lift in their direction, hollered at a kid that he was on my bike, and after a few turnarounds in the car, I bailed from the car and gave chase on foot as the thief had got off my bike and was legging it.
Long story short, I caught him and grabbed him by his right arm, put him to the floor explaining to him in no uncertain terms that I was not letting him go till the police arrived. He said he didnt nick my bike, but a lad with a blue hoody was riding it and abandoned it, so he got on and rode it. There was a lad with a blue hoody in the garage. I asked who the other lad on the bike with him was, he said he had only just met him but coughed a name. I suggested that he should tell the police everything when they arrived to stop himself getting into even more trouble. The police arrived, took some details and found another lad on a neighbours bike at the local railway station.
So they have at least two bang to rights. Difficult to say, but my guess that the kid I caught and others I saw were probably around 14 and the others would be about the same. When he police returned with them in the van they told me that they are known bike thieves.
Must admit that I am quite chuffed that at 55 I am still fit enough (or stubbornly determined not to give in to the pain barrier) to catch a teenager trying to flee a crime, initially on a bike with me on foot. However, going from a standing, cold muscle start to a very long sprint (about a mile) has buggered my Achilles' tendons...
So what happens next? They have previous. They were apprehended with stolen property minutes after it was taken. They have damaged some expensive locks on bikes and storage cabinets, and were caught red handed on two of the bikes, I actually saw one of them riding my bike and the Samaritan who gave me a lift gave his details to plod as a witness if needed. I found my other bike in another part of the garage unlocked and "ready to go", so I have only lost the locks as have others in the block. What deterrent is the court likely to hand down to them? Where does the age of criminal responsibility fit in?
TLDR: spate of bike thefts here lately. Caught kids red handed after stealing bikes. What will the courts hand down.
ts. Dammit said:
My prediction: nothing will happen.
That aside, good effort on your part.
I need to say that the police were excellent, on the scene in about 10 minutes with a van. Took the !!!?! Into custody, found another one at the railway station (smart move given where the one I caught lives) and will be back to look at the scene tonight or tomorrow. That aside, good effort on your part.
They called me twice while I was rounding up neighbour's to see what of theirs was damaged / missing but I missed the calls as I didn't take my phone with me when I went to investigate. They have been back to the property with the perps in the van and returned a neighbour's bike. I could not ask for more from them.
I truly believe that the police will follow through on this due to the recent spate of thefts and previous of the accused.
So given that I trust them to do that, what is the court do with a cast iron case like this?
Rick101 said:
You get charged with assaulting a child?
Lets hope not.
I held the kid by his right wrist / forearm with reasonable force to ensure that he didn't get away. I told the officer that as I handed him over, there were witnesses to my chase and actions and the kid has no marks. So in short, I don't think so, but you never know.Lets hope not.
I thought I was reading a rather exciting film review then.
Good job, and good to see the Police there so quick. You're probably right, and they'll be chuffed to have the serial thieves in. What happens next will largely be down to the CPS and the courts. The police will submit the file but after that it's largely out of their hands.
Re assaulting the child, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Especially with witnesses and the fact you've been up front with the attending cops.
Good job, and good to see the Police there so quick. You're probably right, and they'll be chuffed to have the serial thieves in. What happens next will largely be down to the CPS and the courts. The police will submit the file but after that it's largely out of their hands.
Re assaulting the child, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Especially with witnesses and the fact you've been up front with the attending cops.
Rick101 said:
Very sensible and it sounds like you dealt with an officer with a bit of sense.
Sadly it's not unknown in some cases for the person trying to do a good deed to be penalised and the offender who knows how to play the game gets off free.
In Daily Mail world, yes. In real life, the police often try to catch crims, sometimes do catch crims, and they are usually on the side of people like the OP, but don't let that spoil the why oh why oh whying, as that's more fun. OP, plaudits. Hang tough, you may yet see a conviction. Sadly it's not unknown in some cases for the person trying to do a good deed to be penalised and the offender who knows how to play the game gets off free.
RE your injury, the Criminal Injuries compensation guidance says this -
"You may be eligible for a payment if you were injured while trying to apprehend an offender or suspected offender, prevent or remedy the consequences of a crime or were helping the police to do so. However, we will only make a payment if we are satisfied that you were taking an exceptional risk and that risk was justified in all the circumstances.
A risk will not be considered exceptional if it was something that you might reasonably have been expected to do in the normal course of your work. In considering whether a risk is exceptional we will consider if the risk taken was unusual and was not something which you had been trained to deal with.
When considering if the risk was justified we will consider all the circumstances, including the seriousness of the situation, and whether there was an immediate threat to those involved."
Scrote not worth suing, of course, but might be worth a pop for crim injuries compensation. I do not support compo culture, but you are a goody, injured dealing with a baddy, so in your case, maybe go for it.
Breadvan72 said:
In Daily Mail world, yes.
TBF I was careful to phase it as an occasional thing not the norm. Maybe should have added a smiley. I appreciate you get pissed off with people disregarding your advice but don't take it so seriously. I expect you 'believe' in the law but sometimes it doesn't work as it should.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff