A cyclist was attacked in Regent’s Park, London, by hammer-wielding robbers who stole his £4,200 Trek Domane bike.
Two men on a moped approached him and checked out his Trek Domane bike, which was worth £4,200. After inspecting the bike, the men turned around and followed Patrick.
One of the men jumped off the moped and aggressively demanded Patrick’s bike, shouting a threatening phrase. When the cyclist refused to give up the bike, the man pulled out a hammer.
He waved the hammer and made further threats before grabbing the bike. The pair then sped off on their moped, holding the stolen bike high.
Cycle club members have reported that robberies are a frequent occurrence in Regent’s Park. Armed individuals are committing these crimes by stealing bikes, leading the members to request a greater police presence.
The Met Police acknowledge it’s a serious issue and have increased patrols with both plain-clothes and uniform officers. Conneely spoke to someone calling 999 but has not returned to the park since the incident.
Conneely feels uneasy about going back and wants to exercise safely there. As a result, people are now meeting outside the area and riding together in groups for safety.
Conneely believes the crime was organized, not random, and suggests a police sting operation. He notes that this tactic previously worked against watch robbers and might be effective here too.
Chief Inspector John Hine commented on the case, stating that officers searched for witnesses immediately and thoroughly checked CCTV footage.
The suspects wore masks, hindering identification. Police informed the victim about the outcome and acknowledged the violence as a serious threat. They are currently unsure if this incident is related to other bike thefts.
Police are diligently working to reduce bike thefts by frequently patrolling high-risk areas. Plain clothes and uniform officers are present at night and in the early morning, as stopping these crimes is important to everyone.