Bike thieves equipped with bolt cutters hit Doncaster town centre

Doncaster may have seen a boom in cycling during lockdown – but now its seeing a surge in bike thefts.
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Concerned police have today revealed they have seen a spate of cycle thefts in the centre of Doncaster as people turn to pedal power while the weather is warm and the roads have been quieter.

In some cases, thieves have used heavy duty equipment to cut locks.

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But in one case the owner of the bike saw what was happening and grabbed their cycle before it could be taken – with the would-be thief running away.

File picture of police security-marking a bikeFile picture of police security-marking a bike
File picture of police security-marking a bike

Police community support officer Paula Fox said: “Due to the lovely warm weather we are having and our covid situation many people are now enjoying exercising, going to work or travelling to do shopping using their bicycles.

Please, please, when leaving your cycle outside any premises ensure you secure it with a good quality anti theft lock.“We have in the last few weeks had a number of cycle thefts in the Doncaster town centre.

“This has been a few times by means of using bolt croppers on the lock during the day, blatantly while shoppers are in the area.

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“On one occasion a member of the public managed to grab hold of a bike before it was taken and the offender ran off.”

Cheaper end of the market bikes were selling as as demand was so high anf factories were in lockdown.

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