Bikes left destroyed after being stolen by thieves in Sidmouth

The bike after it was found. (Image: Archant)

Frank Hocking has hit out at the thief who stole and completely defaced his bike, which he said was not the only one targeted last Friday night.

Frank’s dark blue Transfer cycle was locked up behind his home, in Lymebourne Avenue, Sidmouth, when was it taken overnight. It was later found ‘completely defaced’ and dumped by the skate park in Manstone Lane. It was found by another resident looking for their stolen bike, which had disappeared from Winslade Road on the same night.

Frank, 54, said: “I spoke to two or three other residents who told me their bikes were stolen on the same night. It is harsh and horrendous. It is one thing taking it and riding it from A to B, but to wreck it after - it is a shame. I was absolutely dismayed when I saw it.

“The other lady who found my bike took theirs straight to the tip. It was in a worse state than mine. I am a chef at a hotel and do a lot of split shifts. It has put 10 or 15 minutes on to every journey. It is just the inconvenience of it.”

The bike after it was found. (Image: Archant)

Another resident, Ian Bisson, said his son’s white Land Rover bike was stolen the same night – despite being chained to a lamppost outside Sidmouth Police Station.

Sergeant Andy Squires, of the town’s neighbourhood policing team, told the Herald: “To steal a bike and then destroy it is not something we hear about often.

“Normally they take it and you will find it abandoned in the town somewhere, because they have used it to get from A to B.

“We need to know when these things are happening. It needs to be reported to us so we can direct patrols in the right place at the right time. Even if people think we are not able to do anything about, it we still need to know.”

The bike after it was found. (Image: Archant)

Frank’s daughter Polly thanked police, who she said had been ‘fantastic’ in trying to help them. Anyone with any information should call police on 101.