Knifepoint robbery in Sutton Park
A 68-year-old man had his £9,000 electric bike stolen at knifepoint in Sutton Park, Birmingham, on Monday, June 22, in what police described as a 'regular occurrence'. The victim, who asked not to be named, was riding through the park when he was kicked off his Amflow bike by one of three robbers riding powerful Sur-Ron e-bikes.
The incident occurred around 6.30pm, approximately 500 yards from the Jamboree Stone towards Chester Road. The robbers rode behind the victim, and a pillion passenger armed with a Rambo knife kicked the wheel of his bike, causing him to fall. The main robber then rode off on the stolen bike with his accomplices.
Victim recounts the attack
The victim, who lives near Sutton Park and has been riding there for 60 years, said he had just been discharged from hospital after a minor operation. He had been aware of reports of robberies in the park, including one where a cyclist was slashed. 'I had seen people on Sur-Ron bikes and not had a problem. But that night two came up – one to the left and one to the right. One of them on the back of a bike with a rider kicked my wheel and knocked me off the bike. By the time I got up to have a look, they had all immediately ridden off.'
The thieves also took the man's phone, which was attached to his bike. However, he managed to recover it using Apple's Find My technology, discovering it under bushes near Clifton Road Youth Centre the following morning.
Descriptions of the robbers
The victim described the robber who kicked him as around 6ft 1 to 6ft 3, black, wearing black trousers and a grey top, and carrying a Rambo knife with a knuckle duster handle. Another robber was of Mediterranean appearance with a slim build and a snood covering his nose. The third wore a full balaclava, revealing only his eyes, and was dark-skinned.
After the attack, the victim ran back to the Jamboree Stone, borrowed a walker's phone, and called his wife. Police came to his home and interviewed him. 'I activated Find My phone on another phone and six officers came with me when it pinged near the Clifton Youth Club. The police were absolutely brilliant. But we couldn't see it in the dark. I went back at 7.30am the next morning and managed to find it.'
Second e-bike theft in Sutton Park
This robbery is the second e-bike theft reported in Sutton Park recently. In late May, a rider in his 50s was chased from the Jamboree Stone towards Miller and Carter and attacked by 'six or seven youths in balaclavas' in a 'seven-on-one' robbery. The victim of the June robbery said, 'The police told me this was a 'regular occurrence in the park'. They said 'this is a problem in Sutton Park'.' He added that a bike shop confirmed knowing the other victim and advised calling 999 if Sur-Ron bikes are seen, as they are not allowed and are too quick.
The victim expressed his determination not to be deterred: 'I have been back in the park since. I am not going to be put off. If you don't go back they have won again, won twice. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. They need catching and the full force of the law needs to deal with them.'
Police response
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said, 'We are investigating after a rider was robbed of his bike in Sutton Park. The incident happened at about 6.30pm on Monday, 22 June and we believe it involved three youths on two other bikes. Anyone with information can contact us on 101, or via Live Chat on our website, quoting crime reference 20/296108/26.'
