Pro rider’s bike stolen at knifepoint in London

Not sure what say about this except F me…

Apparently it’s the second such incident in 24hrs. I’ll be giving the park a wide berth for the foreseeable. Richardson was lucky not to have worse injuries..

https://road.cc/content/news/pro-cyclist-robbed-bike-richmond-park-machete-gang-286959?fbclid=IwAR0DW24i_BwlFkm_oqUHpOKFPvCF06fvNF-f-YxWoKpY2dVPJbPUXZ0gjTY

Wow, that’s a bit bonkers!!!!

Saw it this morning, was going to lap the park this afternoon, gave it a wide berth after this.

Horrible

I’d been there earlier in the day 😬

Horrific as it is, these events are thankfully rare.

There was a brief burst of it on the Birmingham canals earlier this year I think? Derby had it 3-4 years ago.

Richmond Park does have spates of it. They were going after people on Priory Lane a few years ago. Scary stuff though. I rode through on Tuesday.

That’s why I do laps at 5.30am. Thems nasty are still in bed.

The key to such a situation is to disarm the machete-wielding rapscallion and sink the blade through the ichor of his cold, dead heart. That’ll see the rest of them off; petrifying their hearts

It’s a shame Fenton wasn’t around. He’d have soon chased them away.

Pretty crazy that it happened in such a busy area of the park. Never heard of something like that happening before but makes me think I should be a bit more vigilant when I am out 😐

It’s meant to be a royal park, not Compton in the 90’s. Bit embarrassing. If Prince P was still alive I’m
sure he’d rightly have them sent to Guantanamo or select a similar fitting punishment.

Now I wonder if they can tell the difference between a BSO and a Di2 Cervelo. Also will my 105 mark me as a peasant not worth robbing?

It’s meant to be a royal park, not Compton in the 90’s.

Now I wonder if they can tell the difference between a BSO and a Di2 Cervelo. Also will my 105 mark me as a peasant not worth robbing?

I’m guessing they def can tell the difference

It’s time the sentences got stiffer to tackle these machete wielding moped scallies, ten years minimum, 5 for robbing and 5 for the machete, that should make them think twice. Knife crime is through the roof because the government aren’t doing anything about it, most only get a few months even if they’ve done it before, the amount of scumbags who’ve been in prison more than a dozen times is staggering.

There was a time a couple of years ago when police adopted a tactic of driving into these thugs on mopeds. Too easy for them to get away even in the rare event they get pursued by police. The level of hand wringing opposition was embarrassing.

 the amount of scumbags who’ve been in prison more than a dozen times is staggering.

So, absolute proof that ‘prison works’  then? Or just possibly a flaw in your reasoning?

They’re just misunderstood youth, born into poverty, little to no chance in life, trying to turn their lives around, aspiring rappers etc. Give them a chance (or twelve). Think of your hard-earned bike as a charity donation.

Or not.

that should make them think twice

Not if they are under 14 !!

Bring back flogging.

I’ve had a similer experience commuting home many years ago they pulled me off the bike, no knife was involved there was no way i was giving up my bike i ended up fighting both of them off but since then i’ve carried an Expandable Baton, never had to use it. It is illegal to possess but i would rather ask for forgiveness than someone steal or stab me for my possessions that i have worked hard to own.

Seems to be a weekly thing on the canals in Birmingham at the moment, I lost my Orange speedworks 4 weeks back now, they have escalated, I unfortunately had a 4 on 1 attack with heavy mechanics spanner’s and hammer, poor guy a couple of weeks ago they pulled a gun on him and his daughter no idea if it was fake or not but enough not to argue and hand the bikes over.

There was a time a couple of years ago when police adopted a tactic of driving into these thugs on mopeds. Too easy for them to get away even in the rare event they get pursued by police. The level of hand wringing opposition was embarrassing.

They still do.

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/guidance-updated-help-police-tackle-moped-crime-more-safely

It’s time the sentences got stiffer to tackle these machete wielding moped scallies, ten years minimum, 5 for robbing and 5 for the machete

If I’ve read the sentencing guidelines correctly the minimum sentencing would start at 5 yrs with a max of 8.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/robbery-street-and-less-sophisticated-commercial/

but since then i’ve carried an Expandable Baton, never had to use it. It is illegal to possess but i would rather ask for forgiveness than someone steal or stab me for my possessions that i have worked hard to own

Yes with a maximum of four years and it’s now illegal to possess it anywhere and that includes your home now.
And sod all use against a knife.

Seems to be a weekly thing on the canals in Birmingham at the moment,

There was a spate of it on the Fallowfield Loop in Manchester a while ago. It’s an off-road tarmac cycle route popular with commuters and students, I used to use it pretty regularly too.

However with it being away from any roads and round the back of various housing estates and industrial units in the delights of East Manchester, it was easy for scrotes to lie in wait, ambush cyclists and then disappear into the alleyways.

“but since then i’ve carried an Expandable Baton, never had to use it. It is illegal to possess…”

“…And sod all use against a knife.”

Bit of a longer reach? Wouldn’t want to try it myself mind.

The other benefit is the distinctive expanding noise and action might make the pond scum think they have stumbled into an off duty copper which might be enough to make them leg it.

WHOOP. Big shout to the Mods. I can now read the thread title without trying to work out why/how the Pro’s are biking in a stolen manner 🙂

Maglite torches with 5 D Cells used to be popular with security as it made an improvised baton.

“It’s not an expandable baton it’s a 5Kg solid aluminium bike pump”

I was a regular on the Fallowfield Loop – the gangs were usually around in the middle of the day, not at rush hour.

How many of the people advocating smashing someone with a baton etc have ever done so?

Easy to talk, quite different to get the Barton out, have space to swing etc and then activity hit someone with enough force in the right place to stop them.

Fair enough if you know what you’re doing good at self defense but I am not sure most people could make effective use of these weapons.

Yes with a maximum of four years and it’s now illegal to possess it anywhere and that includes your home now. And sod all use against a knife.

OK, first of all 16 inch baton. Considering it’s longer than a knife and able to break bones, three whacks is more than enough. In a self-defense scenario you’re not trying to get them to comply to take them in the custody so using joint locks, you’re trying to get them to leave you alone. No head shots, hands, elbows and knees are all good targets. I know how to effectively use a baton.

I also said i knew they are illegal chances are pleading ignorance you would most likely get heavily fined and community service, just look at the pub owner a few weeks back as an example. Also there is a loop hole with a particular type of baton or there was need to look up and see if they have closed it.

That’s terrible in Richmond park I used to do laps, and commute straight across it.

Just be aware if you have an offensive weapon in the form of a sports bat you also carry a ball and glove for the practice you were about to go to.

Sadly it’s not just Richmond park, there was a spate of bike thefts in a Hackney park. Scrotes just hid in the bushes and jumped out on anyone passing, this was in the day too.

A quick guide to urban survival:

1) Always ride crap bikes around town
2) Drive a crap car
3) Use a crap phone
4) Never wear a posh watch
5) Carry a second “dummy” wallet with a few notes in and one out of date bank card.

A heads up for anyone that rides in and around Richmond – there was another bike jacking on Monday.

Same modus operandi – moped scum rams cyclist off bike then threatens victim with a machete. This time outside a school by the Roehampton Gate.

There was no sign of any police in the park yesterday despite 3 violent muggings in less than a week.

Based on the location and direction of travel of the moped scum they probably came from the Roehampton Estate which has a history of moped mugging occupants for most of the last 10 years.

Also for any locals – the moped scum gangs are nicking bikes from houses at night.

I’ve decided to pack in any road riding in West London now apart from on my tatty station bike – I’ve seen the moped scum gangs too many times to feel safe. Hopefully the mudguards and panniers will put them off…

Another bike theft in Richmond Park! from londoncycling

https://road.cc/content/news/moped-gang-steal-junior-national-tt-champs-bike-287033

F’s sake.

I’m done. No more park rides for me & the sooner I’m out of this sh1thole the better. Hateful place.

There was no sign of any police in the park yesterday despite 3 violent muggings in less than a week.

I was there on Sunday morning and there was a police car parked up at the junction of Queen’s Road and Ham Gate Avenue. Tbh I’d have thought you’d be ok bright and early on a weekend morning because there are just so many cyclists but I’ll definitely be avoiding it at other times now.

And another – about 1 mile west and 15 minutes after the first mugging yesterday. Unless they dropped off the first bike in that time it means there were two gangs out yesterday.

Police were called at 17:09hrs on 11/10/21 to high Street, SW15 in @MPSWandsworth after a man was reported to have been assaulted by two males, who then stole his bicycle. One of the suspects was reported to be in possession of a machete and so armed officers responded. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/eKOCTOZlMK

— Royal Parks Police (@MPSRoyal_Parks) October 12, 2021

Anyone want to start a co / Kickstarter for the true London cyclists multi tool.

Crank Bros is missing a trick not including a machete for protection against pirates. Maybe specialized could include one in their Swat compartment.

I’m joking but when co’s are working to normalise £5-10k builds what are they going to do to keep the owners safe?

To me this is terrorism, not simple theft and police should be treating much more seriously…

To me this is terrorism, not simple theft and police should be treating much more seriously…

Its not terrorism, but it’s not theft either, it’s robbery, and sentencing reflects that.