A stolen bicycle has been returned to its rightful owner after police tracked down the thief and tackled him to the ground.
The criminal was handed an eight week prison sentence and police said they had been able to secure the prosecution and return the bike to its owner because the cyclist had registered his bike on Bike Register - a website which allows officers to check a central database and see who the bike belongs to.
Police officers were alerted to reports of a man with bolt croppers in Northampton town centre on August 19 after CCTV operators saw him cut through a bicycle lock and ride away.
Officers began searching for the thief and eventually found 29-year-old John Patrick Lavelle before tackling him to the ground when he tried to make off.
Lavelle was later charged with theft and on Friday (August 20) at Northampton Magistrates’ Court he was sentenced to eight weeks in prison.
Thankfully, the bike owner – Gary, had registered his bicycle on Bike Register – a bike marking website which allows police to check a central database and locate the rightful owner of a stolen bike.
Dave Stimpson from the Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This was a great result and I am really pleased we were able to quickly return Gary’s bike to him.
“Some great work by the local policing team ensured a swift deployment and subsequent arrest of the thief at the scene. Thanks to the owner using Bike Register, his bike was speedily returned to him. A new D lock has also been presented to him free of charge.
“If bike owners can take anything away from this story, it’s that ensuring you think about crime prevention. Always lock your bike, keep a record of the frame number and other identifying features, and get your bike marked at one of our Bike Marking Events. If it is stolen, it’s easier for us to return it to you.”
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11 comments
Castration for the culprit and nothing less! Honestly, bike theives are amongst the scum of the earth.
Yet it was one of these that either prevented the crime or led to the apprehension of the thief in possession. It would be good to know what the cyclists must "always do" in those regards, without which the marking and registration would have been for nought.
#KashyyykGunners
"always lock your bike...."
But serious bike thieves always carry angle grinders.
::EDIT::
or bolt cutters to a lesser extent.
Not all thieves are "serious" as this story demonstrates.
He was serious. He just wasnt smart.
He had the right tools for the job, He successfully completed the job which was to steal the bike but rather than go into hiding with his prize as quick as he could, he was riding the bike around.
The CCTV crew deserves praise for calling it in though. Normally they dont bother because its not their property thats being stolen.
At first sight I thought the thief had just cut through the seat tube - but maybe it came like that from new?
Nope. Thats how they are by design
Strewth, no wonder it got nicked!
Yeah, I think using the word "design" might be overstating things slightly.
Poor guy was probably looking farward to claiming off his home insurance and getting something a bit nicer until the pesky rozzers cracked the case.
Even for a folding bike, that's ugly