CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Tiny bike thieves/toerags

(13 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by ARobComp
  • Latest reply from TractorFactory

  1. ARobComp
    Member

    Riding back from a CX practice session yesterday on Broughton Street and I came across a very short man locking up a nice looking MTB. Oh wait I thought - that's a hooded kid (about 8 or 9) stealing a front wheel off a nice looking MTB.

    I hopped the pavement and shouted and he was off like a ferret down the side street - I shouted into the wee cafe (forth and something) on the left and someone came out and said it was his bike. I told him his front wheel was half off and gave chase. Saw him at the end of the road but lost him in the labyrinthine area around the top of leith . Passing jogger said they saw a group and they had another bike wheel with them.

    Headed back and spoke to the chap recommending just a cheap cable as it's a decent deterrent and easy to carry.
    So good deed done.[

    I spoke to my brother when I returned (he works in security) and he pointed out that if I'd grabbed the kid and he's NOT been charged (likely) I'd have been liable and chargeable for removing his liberty. This is rather silly isn't is as he's caught in the act.

    Anyway - LOCK UP YOUR BITS

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "... he pointed out that if I'd grabbed the kid and he's NOT been charged (likely) I'd have been liable and chargeable for removing his liberty. This is rather silly isn't is as he's caught in the act."

    I don't think that's right, but will check with my various criminal law people...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. ARobComp
    Member

    Dave is a bouncer/security guard at Jenners/Harvey nicks and this was quite heavily referred to during his training. I'd be delighted if it's wrong (or only applies to those who work professionally in security?)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Appears to be very much a grey area, nothing settled on it.

    From the wonderful wiki: "While no statutory provision for citizen's arrest exists in Scots Law, there is a common law position that anyone committing an offence can be arrested using minimum force if necessary with consideration to what is reasonable in the relevant circumstances. The offence must be a serious one and not merely for a breach of the peace. The person exercising the power must have witnessed the offence occurring therefore they cannot act upon information from another person. An arrest is applicable reliant on situation"

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Morningsider
    Member

    My understanding is that a private citizen can arrest someone if they have witnessed them committing a serious crime and the citizen has a 'moral certainty' that a crime has been committed. The citizen must hand the person they arrested over to a police constable as soon as possible or face the possibility of an action of damages for wrongful arrest.

    So - moral certainty, serious crime, as soon as possible - spells legal minefield to me and I can understand why the advice would be "don't do it".

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. stiltskin
    Member

    Well, stealing a bike is a pretty serious crime in my eyes. I wouldn't have any compunction in stopping someone. In fact I have done it to two feral kids who were riding a bike of mine which had been stolen some months before. All that happened was that they were arrested.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    In England it's specifically provided for in legislation, but there are constraints (pretty much as Morningsider has said above) on making a citizen's arrest.

    So yes, perfectly possible, but could land you in bother depending on the circumstances.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. DaveC
    Member

    Hmmm, news to me. I once saw two 'store detective' types tailing a guy running through, Rose Street. I'd seen him jogging along to Rose St, and then a minute later saw two guys in white shirts, black trousers, CB radios, heading in the same direction. I nipped round Princes Street, and caught up with him by Charlotte Sq. I nabbed him and held his wrist. He seamed surprised, and then when they cought up, aI handed him over. He also seamed surprised that I didn't follow them to the shop/where ever, as I went on my way. Suppose I could have been arrested myself for Wrongful arrest?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. Focus
    Member

    I suspect no police officer in their right mind would charge you for assisting them, it would be a defence team who would be trying to do you with wrongful arrest or some-such, just to get their client off on a technicality.

    As for the original incident, it amazes me how many bikes I see without the wheels secured by even a flimsy cable - the term "quick release skewer" should be a clue. I've even seen the opposite once or twice - a bike "secured" only by the wheel!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. Uberuce
    Member

    Greenroofer recently saw that a bike had been secured by a cable, the owner using a Kryptonite D as a padlock for it, rather than as main security. He didn't see the bike, since it had been stolen.

    I read on LFGSS of a poster there who witnessed someone locking his bike up by the QR-d front wheel. Told him to let him show him something, then proceeded to whip his own front wheel off and swap it for the locked-up one in a dozen or so seconds. Public Service notepad and pen for that chap, I declare.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. DaveC
    Member

    I had my first MTB nicked in Cambridge, when I couldn't get my D lock round a lamp post, so locked it with a cable round the lamp post, and then D lock through the wheel and frame. It was the last time I saw it. Now I leave my bike in my garage, or a secure locked room locked to a bolted down sheffield stand at work!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. Instography
    Member

    But on the whole, stuff doesn't get stolen.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. TractorFactory
    Member

    @DaveC

    Are you sure you didn't just stumble into the opening sequence of Trainspotting? ;-)

    Posted 11 years ago #

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