Archived Topic
Topic ID 698
30/07/2004 by TVA
Thieves in Ware
My bike was stolen yesterday from outside Ware train station. It was secured with a heavy duty cable through both wheels, the frame, and the bars provided in the bike stand. It is a shame, because the people of Ware shouldn't even have to lock up our property like this.
Please keep an eye out for a black mountain bike with silver fittings. It is a Raleigh and has "STONEFLY" in silver text on the crossbar. It had no mudguards. I will be patrolling the town to look out for it. If I can track down those responsible I will take action to stop them. This is a small village and there are not many bikes of this model in circulation, so please be vigilant. If you see a black bike, look for the silver "stonefly" logo. I would be grateful for any intelligence that you can offer.
I am informed that thefts like this are a regular occurrence but neither the rail companies nor the transport police have implemented even the most basic security measures, such as CCTV.
Could the culprits be the same youths who are causing other problems in Ware, including broken windows and other petti-vandalism?
REWARD
- �50 for information leading to the recovery of the stolen property.
- �1000 for information that enables me to find any individual criminal involved with this crime.
CONTACT ME IN CONFIDENCE: joe (@ goes here) intertek.org.uk
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 6075
30/07/2004 by Plus 1
I agree with you about getting hold of the person responsible for the theft of your bike, and i hope i am thinking on the same lines about what you would do to said person. But just be very carefull as the LAW protects the criminals not you, remember (Tony Martin) But I know i would react the same way. S_D what happens.[}:)] Good luck in finding them or the bike
Reply ID 6076
30/07/2004 by david c
I'm very sorry to hear of your unfortunate theft! I hope you have some luck in tracking your bike down!! I'll keep my eyes open for you, and if i see anything i will let you know!!
Reply ID 6078
30/07/2004 by BurningFuse
What time was it stolen?
I was in a car close to the station gate fairly late yesterday evening (just after 10pm) to meet the incoming train, which was delayed.
I saw a man, I'd say in his early-mid thirties, solidly built about 6ft tall with cropped short hair wearing a white T-shirt and black jeans (from what I remember) come to the station in a car, which I think was driven by someone else.
He took look at a black bike on the bike rack (the only bike there) and then progressed onto the platform as if looking for someone (I assumed that he was waiting for a passenger on the late train). He didn't touch the bike, but I rememeber thinking that it looked as if he was looking oportunisticly to see if it was locked...
Not sure if this is helpful? I expect that the station CCTV would have him on tape as he did go onto the platform.
BurningFuse
Reply ID 6079
30/07/2004 by bolly
I expect its more likely in cheshunt or further up the line, probably was put straight on the train. Does the train station have CCTV?
I know how you feel, about 15 years ago when I had just passed my test I had a little mini, I left that at Broadmeads car park, came off the train and found it stolen.
Reply ID 6080
31/07/2004 by biondi
Sorry to hear about this, I often ride up and down the toe-path and shall keep an eye out for it also.
Reply ID 6096
02/08/2004 by Alec
I have a low level of trust with the bike racks at Ware Station. Some years ago I had my cycle computer stolen (but not the mounting - so it was probably of no value) and shortly afterwards had my saddlebag rifled through (it was left open and stuff on the pavement).
Thankfully, this was just before I bought a far better bike, so I now always use my old agricultural heap as a "station bike", as I'm fairly sure my better bike wouldn't be there when I returned. A real low.
Reply ID 6097
02/08/2004 by Justme
Will keep both eyes open for you.
I hope he/she gets caught![:(!]
Reply ID 6102
02/08/2004 by gagging4it
�50 for the bike back and �1000 to find out the "criminal" that did it? Sounds scary! What are you going to do with them?
Reply ID 6121
03/08/2004 by TVA
quote:
Originally posted by BurningFuse
I was in a car close to the station gate fairly late yesterday evening (just after 10pm) to meet the incoming train, which was delayed.
I saw a man, I'd say in his early-mid thirties, solidly built about 6ft tall with cropped short hair wearing a white T-shirt and black jeans (from what I remember) come to the station in a car, which I think was driven by someone else.
He took look at a black bike on the bike rack (the only bike there) and then progressed onto the platform as if looking for someone (I assumed that he was waiting for a passenger on the late train). He didn't touch the bike, but I remember thinking that it looked as if he was looking oportunisticly to see if it was locked...
BurningFuse
Thank you, BurningFuse, the man you saw sounds like a credible suspect. Thanks also to everybody who read or replied to my original post.
The theft may have occurred at any time between 0841 HRS and about 1900 HRS. Another bike was locked up in what seemed to be the same place at 1900 HRS, suggesting that the theft took place earlier.
My bike was indeed there the previous evening, so the one that you saw almost certainly was mine. I have not left it overnight before. Doing so certainly would have increased the likelihood of an opportunist seeing it there and returning the next day with a cutting tool.
Can you remember any more detail about what you saw?
- What was it about the man's behaviour that made you think?
- What can you remember about the car - e.g. light, dark, old, new, model, colour, etc?
- Which direction was the train going in (in case he boarded)?
- Can you recall any more detail about his clothing, etc?
- Did you notice his hair colour - e.g. light, dark, etc?
- Any tattoos?
I will watch the same train this Thursday and on other days at random and keep a look out for him. It will be interesting to see if he pays the bike rack any attention. If so, I will trail him and find out enough to make a thorough investigation. If this person is a thief, or the thief, I will certainly find out. I also intend to use a brand new bike as bait to catch a thief, if not the thief, in the act.
Whatever the outcome, thank you for responding to my appeal and well done for being so observant.
Remember, there is �1,000 in it for anybody who can help me to track down this criminal.
Reply ID 6122
03/08/2004 by BurningFuse
quote:
Can you remember any more detail about what you saw?
What was it about the man's behaviour that made you think?
What can you remember about the car - e.g. light, dark, old, new, model, colour, etc?
Which direction was the train going in (in case he boarded)?
Can you recall any more detail about his clothing, etc?
Did you notice his hair colour - e.g. light, dark, etc?
Any tattoos?
The thing about the man's behaviour that made me remember him was that it looked as if he was checking out the bike rack in passing, but not as a cyclist. In looking at the rack he had to walk a few yards further than the gate to the platform, which meant he was therefore walking a little bit out of his way. He was only at the rack for about ten seconds before going to the platform, and as I said before he didn't actually touch anything.
The bike was in the middle of the rack, maybe slightly to the left of centre. Was that yours?
The car was behind me so I only saw it in my rearview mirror, but I think it was black and non-sporty type. I'm not a car expert I'm afraid.
The train was coming into Ware from London, before going on to Hertford.
I can't give you any further accurate detail on his clothing. His hair was short and I think it was light, I remember thinking that he didn't exactly look like a nerdy type - more like "Biff" from Back To The Future! I didn't notice any tatoos.
Remember: I did not see the man comit any crime. He may have been a completely innocent passer-by.
If this information does lead to you finding him then please don't do anything that would land you in trouble, and please donate the reward to a local charity.
BurningFuse
Reply ID 6140
04/08/2004 by linzii-b
I noticed a bike in the ditch beside the towpath between Ware and Hertford on Saturday afternoon. When I cycled back the other way, someone had pulled it out of the ditch and left it by the side of the towpath. Can't say I remember the colour. Don't know if this is related, or just coincidence.
Reply ID 6194
06/08/2004 by Plus 1
And i wonder? it just makes you sick to see such c**p written, when one of our members is so upset and so would i be if it were my bike. Any idea who wrote said piece or should i guess? but as you say david c at least a few more may be on the look out for it.[}:)] [:)]
Reply ID 6208
09/08/2004 by Acey
Seems to be that WOL is being used to write news for the mercury is this because the reporters cant be bothered to get off their backsides and actually talk to people and find their own stories?
14 replies