Location: 35 Kingsland Road bike storage area
Type: Seat stolen
Bike: Specialized Langster
Value: Up to £50

Crime Description

3 weeks after taking my bike lights, thieving scum returned to steal my bike seat. I had been worried about this and protected the seat post by glueing a ball bearing into it so that an alan key would not allow quick theft of the seat post and seat. The thief took their time and unscrewed the seat from the top of the seat post leaving the post where it was.

I requested CCTV from 35 Kingsland Road staff but heard nothing back. I was later informed that victims cannot get CCTV footage because of data protection issues. This protects the criminals identity quite nicely.

Pointless calling the Police to investigate a seat theft. They didn’t investigate the theft of my entire bike a year ago even when CCTV footage was available so why would they get involved in investigating a seat.

I cannot ride my bike to work any more because the London Met University recommended bike storage area is a bike crime hotspot. If I leave it there again I am sure I will find the handle bars gone next time and then the whole bike stripped. I now catch the bus which takes 25 minutes longer each way, costs more, is bad for the environment and reduces my daily exercise. All key aims of our Government.

Thanks John Ward, estates manager for London Met. John banned bikes from our building in September 2010 and lots of crime occurred immediately afterwards. As an ex-Police officer I thought he would understand the problem and not want to make it easier for thieves?!

When will London Met Uni provide safe bike storage?

Bike lock up in Shoreditch
Specialized Langster without seat

Police and Reward

Police Informed: No
Reward for Conviction: There is no point informing the Police when bike parts are stolen. In some ways it’s a perfect crime (for the criminal of course) with I would estimate a 1% at best conviction rate.

Can you Help?

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