Lyndon Bamford had his green Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10 motorbike stolen from his sister's driveway in Upper Holland Road, Sutton Coldfield, shortly after 5pm on Thursday, August 13. Three thieves, two on one motorbike and one on another, kicked off the steering lock and wheeled the bike towards Ebrook Road, past Plantsbrook School. A woman who tried to intervene said the thieves 'had machetes'. The group is believed to have headed into New Hall Valley Country Park.
Man arranges to buy back his own stolen bike for £1,000
Lyndon, 28, said he was only on his sister's drive for around 15 minutes when the theft occurred. He made enquiries and through contacts found the bike being offered for sale. He arranged to meet the sellers at Rectory Park on Sunday, August 16, offering to buy it back for £1,000. However, when he saw they were 'armed', he called the police.
Lyndon said: 'My bike was taken on Thursday between 5.20pm and 5.40pm in Upper Holland Road outside my sister's house. There were three of them – one on one of the bikes and two on the other. I was only there for around 15 minutes and I had gone back outside and checked it once and after another five minutes it had gone.'
He continued: 'They had booted the steering lock and used the power of the other bikes to push it somewhere. They were carrying machetes. A woman tried to stop them and got threatened with one.'
Armed police and helicopter respond to the scene
Armed police, eight marked police cars, and the police helicopter were deployed to the area. The helicopter was said to have been less than 100 feet off the ground. A motorbike was found on the ground at the corner of Springfield Road and Lindridge Road, near Falcon Lodge, at 8.30pm. Lyndon said three men were arrested and two motorbikes were recovered by police, but not his Kawasaki, which he believed may have been left in Rectory Park. He spent six hours at night looking for it but did not find it.
West Midlands Police provided a statement on the arrests. A spokesman for the force said: 'Two men aged 19 and 21 were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of motorbikes. The pair were detained near Springfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, at around 8.20pm on Sunday (August 16), following a pursuit involving the police helicopter. Both were questioned on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and have been bailed with conditions, while two stolen bikes have been recovered as enquiries continue.'
Bike found in woodland after tip-off from public
After posting on social media about his Kawasaki theft, Lyndon received a message from a member of the public to say it had been discovered in woodland on the edge of Sutton Coldfield off Tamworth Road/Lindridge Road. The man said his daughters had spotted it while playing in the woods.
Lyndon said: 'I arranged to meet them at Rectory Park between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday (August 16). I saw them go in from the Ford garage side [off Coleshill Road]. As soon as I saw them going in to the park I called the police. I had two police officers help me look for my bike. Me and my friends spent six hours looking in Rectory Park in the dark but didn't find it. But then it was found on Tuesday.'
Local councillor thanks police for their efforts
Sutton Reddicap councillor Richard Parkin (Cons.) said: 'A number of residents have contacted me with concerns about a pursuit involving the Police on Springfield Road last night [Sunday night]. I have asked the local Sutton Trinity Police team for an update and they have said: 'Following a police incident on Springfield Road yesterday two males were arrested for a number of offences. Enquiries are ongoing. A third arrest was made at the same time for a separate matter due to the fact the individual concerned was wanted on a recall to prison.' I want to thank the police for their efforts in getting what sounds like a good result last night. I am hoping that I will be in a position to share more information in due course.'
