Pro bikers turn detective to reclaim stolen £3k bike
TWO victims of crime turned detective and persuaded a Swansea gang to return their £3,000 mountain bike.
Professional dirt jumpers Adam Williams and Danny Pace received a tip-off and drove in Adam's van, with some pals in another vehicle, to an estate in Waunarlwydd.
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Danny Pace and Adam Williams
After talking to people there, they quickly established that the missing Identiti P66 bike was in the neighbourhood.
And, following persistent pressure by the duo and their friends, Adam was told the following evening they could come and get the bike.
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"After two days of speaking to these scum we finally got the bike back," said Adam, 22, of Tycoch, whose van containing Danny's bike had been targeted a week before the tip-off. "I'm not saying we got it back by asking nicely."
Danny, 26, of Gorseinon, said: "It feels good to get it back — mainly because the people who stole it have not got it anymore.
"I believe in taking the law into my own hands."
The duo said that, in their view, the police had not shown sufficient interest in the crime.
But South Wales Police said that scenes of crime officers attended following the theft, made house-to-house enquiries and kept Adam informed of the progress of the investigation.
Danny described the estate they visited as "sketchy", and said they'd been warned they might be dealing with people who carried knives.
Danny said: "I didn't see evidence of this, but I could well and truly believe it."
Adam claimed that during their inquiries they learned that youths were sent from the estate to "posh areas" like Sketty to steal. Stolen items were then stored, he said, and had to be sold within three days. He said he was taken to a storage area at one point but that the bike wasn't there.
When they finally collected it, stickers had been removed, parts of the frame sanded and cheap pedals put on, but it was otherwise in good working order.
The duo, who missed a dirt jumping event in Germany due to the theft, were back competing in Northamptonshire yesterday.
Adam admitted they'd been naive to leave the bike overnight in his van, from which other items were also taken. He said he did not want to involve police with their enquiries as he felt the gang would say nothing if officers turned up.
A police spokesman said the crime was still under investigation.
"Mr Williams may have recovered the bicycle but he has not informed the police of this," he said.
"As a victim of crime, if he has information concerning the perpetrator he should pass that onto the police so that the criminal investigation can continue."
He added that officers often attended incidents where there had been no forced entry, presenting easy opportunities for thieves.
A spokeswoman for Victim Support said: "It is not a good idea for victims of crime to take justice into their own hands."
richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk
01792 514620
Comments
by mongoose09
Monday, September 10 2012, 1:44PM
“hadoken6773 you have the intelligence of a pork pie”
by arnoldlane
Monday, September 10 2012, 8:14AM
“Thats how it was done 50 years ago, " gentle persuation "”
by chelsea1955
Sunday, September 09 2012, 7:36PM
“WELL DONE LADS, YOU DESERVE A MEDAL EACH. we all need to follow the way these lads sorted the problem, my daughter had a break in recently, scenes of crime attended with their magnifyings glass and DID not spot blood of burglar on net curtain as he came in through window and smashed the glass and left his baseball cap in one of the upstairs rooms after reporting it to Police on more than one occasion they never came to collect”
by siarad2
Sunday, September 09 2012, 4:13PM
“It's not 'taking the law into your own hands' it's OUR law & the police are our helpers, or used to be.
It's OK to claim back your goods providing you don't break a law in the process.”
by maxmin
Sunday, September 09 2012, 12:12PM
“I always wince a bit when I hear people talk about 'taking the law into their own hands'. When the properly appointed representatives of law fail then what do you do? It's like having your house catch fire and doing nothing about it until the fire brigade turn up because you didn't want to take fire fighting duties into your own hand.
When Sir Robert Peel proposed a uniformed police force it was a contract with the public. You let us raise such a force and we will take responsibility for upholding the law. Unfortunately like the contract over the abolition of hanging - let us abolish hanging and murderers will spend the rest of their lives in prison - this contract has been watered down over time.
Now it is more like we will catch criminals - if we can be bothered, or we don't have time because we are spending so much time nicking motorists for silly offences, but if you try and do anything we will accuse you of taking the law into your own hands and nick you instead.”
by abertawejack
Sunday, September 09 2012, 11:14AM
“To those whom are unable to get your belongings back, may I suggest that you use your insurance for replacement items over £1,000, as under this your annual premium rises, furthermore may I suggest you have replacement stock in readiness, if you use this equipment regulatory. Thus saving you pain and injury also time off work, should you be unable to "Take the law into your own hands". As luck would have it Danny and Adam, along with fellow mates, were able to get their belongings back and well done to them. Myself! nope no way hosay leave it to the police and/or insurance or take the loss on the chin, which I believe most here would do. Still nice to see victims getting his own back though.”
by dick_e
Sunday, September 09 2012, 9:47AM
“I think its great that the public take the law into their own hands to correct what they believe the Peelers are completely inefficient at (especially when heavy handed tactics are inferred to have been used). I see most commentators are in agreement with these boys actions so lets do away with The old Bill (they're above the law anyway and get away with far too many atrocities) and bring back vigilante lynch mobs and mob rule.
A good idea to start would be county hall and then on to Parliament perhaps...
One only hopes the "scum" as mr Pace calls them do not hold a vendetta and also take the law into their own hands at some time in the future - so to speak!”
by BobDavies2
Sunday, September 09 2012, 8:56AM
“Lovely comment by brochadav "Circumventing" the police, basically without swallowing a dictionary, getting the bike back yourself, because the police did nothing!. A bike valued at £3000 isn't a minor theft, the sooner the police start to show an interest in crime, the safer our communities will become, Its not all about waiting for early retirement and the pension. Well done to these lads for taking the initiative, they had the advantage of being two big fit lads, unlike an overweight PCSO, knocking on the door of some coke head in Waunarllwydd.”
by ElasticKorma
Saturday, September 08 2012, 4:23PM
“Lads I hope you give the thieving little blighters a bloody good hiding.”
by brochadav
Saturday, September 08 2012, 4:14PM
“That's a crazy attitude Hadoken, the Police were petty maybe but you were plain stupid to do 100, if caught your "protest" would have cost your license and if you lost control may have killed someone.
PS, yes, I usually speed up as soon as I see the limit rise too but it doesn't make it right.
I would say well done to these cyclists but cannot, even with a poor Police force, agree with taking the law into your own hands. When the people who stole your bike read this will they deem a reprisal necessary? Circumventing the Police could land you in trouble with them AND the criminals!!”