a bit off topic but reading about recent bike thefts made me think of this (taken from another forum):
Topic: Violent bike theft
Article taken from Saturdays S Wales Argus.
THUGS left this Gwent teenager needing facial surgery after they robbed him and his friends of their mountain bikes.
James Storey, 18, from Cwmbran, now needs an operation to reconstruct his broken cheekbone after the attack at Tredegar's Bryn Bach Park.
A gang confronted Mr Storey and two friends, Adam Page, 18, and a 14-year-old boy, at the park at 7.50pm on Thursday.
The trio, keen mountain bikers, had been riding their bikes and were putting them back into their car when the incident happened.
The group asked if they could have a ride, but became violent when they were told no.
One attacked Mr Page, who was holding his bike, pushing it into his ribs and breaking one of them.
Mr Storey was punched in the face and fell to the floor. The 14-year-old boy ran to get help.
All three bikes, worth around £3,500, were stolen and the mountain bikers gave chase in their car, but couldn't find the attackers.
Mr Storey's mother, Beverley, 42, said he now has bone floating in his cheek and one side of his face is flat.
Mr Storey, a bike mechanic, is having surgery in the Royal Gwent Hospital next week to pull his cheek out.
If this doesn't work, he will need a metal plate inserting in his face.
He said: "For the next few weeks or even months, if I go out I'll have someone with me and I wouldn't go back up to Bryn Bach, I'm worried they could come back at any time."
The keen downhill rider will now miss the rest of the season as he can no longer wear his helmet as there is a danger it could force part of his cheekbone into his eye and blind him.
His mother said: "Riding's a major part of his life, that's all he does, for him it's devastating, it's like the end of the world."
Since the attack, Mrs Storey said her son has been really quiet and can't eat solid food or speak properly.
He was also left with with blurred vision in one eye, severe bruising to his face and one of his eyes has closed up.
Mr Page, from Newbridge, said: "I'm angry about what happened - it could happen to anybody up there because a lot of people use the park."
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said one bike was recovered and five men and teenagers from Rhymney have been arrested.
A 31-year-old man was bailed, but four other men, including a 16, 18 and 19-year-old, were still being questioned on Friday.
Anyone with information relating to the thefts can contact Gwent Police on 101.
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A friend of mine was attacked by two guys who wanted his DH bike. Thankfully he managed to stay on the bike but got a black eye and swollen lip for his troubles. Just as well really, because he couldn't have afforded to replace it.
