Threats and large knife involved in two Derby city centre bike theft incidents
Two incidents involving the theft of bikes from cyclists in Derby are being investigated by Derbyshire police. They happened a short distance apart and within about 30 minutes of each other in the city centre at the weekend.
The first incident happened on a footpath close to the River Derwent, in Bass' Recreation Ground near the city centre, at about 6.45pm on Saturday, February 1. A woman was out cycling when a man and two teenage boys blocked her way. Officers say one of them threatened the woman and ordered her to get off the bike, before running off with it towards Derby bus station.
The man involved in the robbery is described as white but with a tanned complexion, with a large build, about 6ft tall and around 20-years-old. He had curly hair shaved on both sides, and was wearing a black tracksuit with a black snood covering the bottom half of his face.
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Another suspect is described as white with a pale complexion and dark circles underneath his eyes, of slim build, clean shaven with short black hair and aged about 17.
He spoke with an eastern European accent and was wearing a black tracksuit, black beanie hat and was riding a bike that was believed to be coloured red. The third suspect is described as white, very petite, around 5ft 7ins tall and aged about 17.
The stolen bike is from the brand Giant and the model is SR Suntour. It is blue in colour and has the word Cyprus written on the top of the frame.
Just over half-an-hour later at 7.20pm, there was a second robbery on a path between Alvaston Park and London Road. A man and woman were riding an e-bike and e-scooter when they were approached by three men or boys. After riding past them, they noticed the trio began to follow them.
One of the group then told the man to hand over his e-bike. When the victim refused, the robber pulled out a large black knife with a serrated edge and put it on the man’s back. The victim then handed over the e-bike and ran off. The group then rode off towards Harvey Road.
Later that evening, the suspect was reportedly seen on the stolen e-bike outside the Premier shop in Nightingale Road, Allenton, at about 8pm. The stolen e-bike is a Samebike model and is black, red and silver.
One of the suspects is described as wearing a greenish black hoody top, another was wearing a black puffer jacket with black jogging bottoms, and the third was dressed in dark blue clothing. All three were wearing black balaclavas. In addition, one of them had an orange-coloured bike and another was riding a black bike.
Since the incident officers have stepped up patrols in the area and have been following a number of lines of investigation. However, no arrests have been made yet and the police are appealing for the public’s help in finding the robbers.
Of particular interest are any residents, businesses or organisations who have not already spoken to officers and may have CCTV that covers the scene of both incidents, and where one of the suspects was later spotted in Allenton.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police using any of the below methods.
Please include reference 25*64126 in relation to the first incident and 25*063975 in relation to the second incident:
Website – there are crime reporting tools on the website: use the online contact form
Facebook – send a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page
Phone – call on 101
You can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website.