So, this evening, just as I walked out of Surrey Quays Decathlon store, I saw some guy jump on, and ride off on a seatless, nice looking specalized bike, with a sawn in half lock in his hand (admittedly a fairly skimpy one). Call me a judgemental prick if you liked, but he looked like a complete chav.
Now, I appreciate that maybe, just maybe, he is the rightful owner, maybe he lost the key to the lock, quickly removed the seatpost while he legged it home to get a hacksaw, forgot the seatpost on the way back to the bike, but went ahead and freed his bike anyway. But I have a nagging feeling that this is not the case.
I'm now feeling a bit pathetic. If I had thought quicker, I could have thrown a stick at the exact trajectory to wedge in the front wheel spokes and send him flying into the docks. Or given chase and kicked him square in the nuts. I could even have shouted "Oi!" or something similarly disapproving. Unfortunately I stood and stared, not knowing what to do. I thought about waiting around, in order to tell the next person to come along with a saddle and seatpost in his hand that his bike had just been nicked, but that probably wouldn't help anyone.
In the end I just went home. If you had your bike stolen from outside Decathlon tonight, Im sorry. I failed you.
Anyone else ever seen a crime take place and missed the opportunity to intervene until it is too late?
I'll be more ready next time.