Runcorn thieves make off with £20k of bikes in just two minutes

CCTV footage captured the moment a group of alleged thieves made off with £20,000 worth of bikes.

In the clip, filmed in Runcorn, Cheshire, the group of four men scramble into the warehouse out of a white van which rammed into the shutters to force them open.

The men quickly spread out and grabbed bikes from behind wooden pallets and placed them into the back of the van.

In the clip, filmed on CCTV in Runcorn, Cheshire, the alleged thieves are seen grabbing bikes from across the warehouse behind wooden pallets

They quickly spread out, having used a white van as a battering ram to open up the shutters

They quickly spread out, having used a white van as a battering ram to open up the shutters

This bike was among the ones stolen in the raid at 3.40pm on Saturday June 16

This bike was among the ones stolen in the raid at 3.40pm on Saturday June 16

Each of the men wore baseball caps to cover their faces, and the entire operation was over in less than two minutes.

The incident took place at a secure compound at 3.40pm on Saturday June 16. 

Thieves have been using stolen mopeds across the country for other crimes, swiping phones from pedestrians as they ride past or smashing into luxury store fronts.

They can make up to £2,000 a day by using the bikes to commit crimes, leading to MPs describing London, where this kind of crime has surged, as being like the Wild West.

The group made off with £20,000 worth of bikes in the raid which lasted just two minutes

The group made off with £20,000 worth of bikes in the raid which lasted just two minutes

Thieves have been using stolen mopeds across the country for other crimes, swiping phones from pedestrians as they ride past or smashing into luxury store fronts

Thieves have been using stolen mopeds across the country for other crimes, swiping phones from pedestrians as they ride past or smashing into luxury store fronts

Ben Routledge, who had his bikes stolen from his business, said: ‘I have been racing bikes for many years now at a competitive level and it’s made me just want to give up with the lot of it, as its not worth the hassle of constantly being targeted by thieves.

‘In a sense its totally ruining the sport and enjoyment for me as I’m now constantly worried about being broken into again.’

The 20-year-old student also had bikes stolen from his home in Formby in January.

Figures from earlier this month revealed that there have been an average of 60 motorcycle muggings a day in London in the past year – a rise of 50 per cent.

Earlier this month Michael McIntyre was targeted by moped thieves in north London while picking his son up from school.

The muggers made off with his watch and are thought to have been watching his movements.  

Ben Routledge, whose bikes were stolen, said the incident had made him want to give up with biking as 'its not worth the hassle of constantly being targeted by thieves'

Ben Routledge, whose bikes were stolen, said the incident had made him want to give up with biking as ‘its not worth the hassle of constantly being targeted by thieves’

The 20-year-old student also had bikes, including this one, stolen from his home in Formby in January

The 20-year-old student also had bikes, including this one, stolen from his home in Formby in January



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