Staffordshire Police have released a CCTV image of a man they are keen to trace after a bicycle was stolen from a charity shop in Tamworth’s Ankerside Shopping Centre.
The theft took place on Saturday, July 18, at approximately 3.30pm, when an unknown man entered the shop on George Street and removed the bike from a window display. The Ankerside Shopping Centre is a prominent retail destination in the heart of Tamworth town centre, and the incident occurred during the afternoon when the area would typically have been busy with shoppers.
Officers have carried out initial inquiries locally, but they have not yet been able to identify the man. As a result, they have turned to the public for help in tracing him.
Suspect described
Police have described the man as white, aged between 50 and 60, with white hair and a medium build. At the time of the theft, he was wearing a dark Adidas top with the brand’s three white stripes down the arms, dark trousers and white trainers. He was also carrying a white carrier bag.
The CCTV image released by officers shows the man wheeling a bicycle along a road, apparently having left the shopping centre. The bike can be seen clearly in the image, and detectives are hopeful that someone may recognise both the suspect and the bicycle.
Police appeal
A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: “We are appealing for information after a bike was stolen from a charity shop in Tamworth. At around 3.30pm on Saturday 18 July, an unknown man took the bike from a shop window display at the Ankerside Shopping Centre on George Street. We’ve carried out inquiries locally and are keen to speak to anyone who recognises the individual pictured. We would like to speak to them in connection with the theft. Anyone with information should call us on 101 or use Live Chat on our website, quoting incident number 216 of 23 July. To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
How to help the investigation
Members of the public who recognise the man from the CCTV image, or who have any information about the theft, are urged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101. They can also use the Live Chat function on the force’s website. When providing information, they should quote incident number 216 of 23 July.
Alternatively, people who wish to remain anonymous can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The charity operates independently of the police and allows callers to pass on information without revealing their identity.
Police have asked anyone who was in the Ankerside Shopping Centre area around the time of the theft to consider whether they saw the man or the bicycle. They are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who may have seen the suspect acting suspiciously near the charity shop window display.
Impact on charity shop
Charity shops rely on donated goods to raise funds for their associated causes, and the theft of a bicycle from a display is a significant loss for a local branch. Items placed in window displays are often chosen to attract customers, and the loss of such an item can also affect the shop’s ability to generate income for its charity partners.
The incident has prompted an appeal from Staffordshire Police, who are treating the theft seriously. Officers are continuing their local inquiries and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the man pictured in the CCTV appeal.
Anyone with information is reminded to contact police on 101 or via the Live Chat service, quoting incident number 216 of 23 July, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
