Copter cracks bike theft

Credit where it’s due – when Martin Hawthorn had two bikes stolen from his garage on Friday the police really went to town. Two riot vans, four squad cars, an unmarked car and a helicopter swung immediately into action and got them back. The result is two bikes restored to their owner and two arrests made.

See our 10-page Security Special – only in MCN out on Wednesday, April 20. It includes tips on making your garage a fortress, new tech that finds your bike and calls the cops plus news of MCN’s dedicated theft-busting website.

Martin, an electrical engineer from Worcester, said: “I was driving home when I got a frantic call from my wife, saying our dirt bikes (CR250, KX60) had gone. She had been woken up (having worked a night shift) by a police officer who had arrived after a neighbour called 999.

“I arrived at about 11.30am to find two riot vans on my drive, with at least four other cars searching and an unmarked car. I also jumped on the R1 to try and find them as they had started the bikes and ridden off.

“The police helicopter was scrambled, and it was this that which really did the business.”

Police spotted two people dumping the bikes in a ditch before making a run for it on foot. Two arrests have been made.

“When the police do a top professional job like this I think everyone should know about it,” said Martin.

Check out our Bike Theft forum HERE

Try our ‘Security’ section: HERE