‘Repo’ bikers dodge police over border
ACRIMINAL gang calling themselves “the Red Dragon” have been causing havoc in Skelmersdale and evading police by hovering between the borders of Lancashire and Merseyside.
The gang have already made headlines by sharing brazen videos and pictures on Instagram of themselves tearing around Liverpool on stolen motorbikes and scooters.
Suspected members of the gang, aged between 15 and 18, have already been charged with vehicle theft, Class A drug dealing, possession of weapons including knives, assault and criminal damage.
They also refer to themselves as “Repo” or the “Repo gang”, slang for criminal activity involving bike theft used by gangs all over the UK.
Residents in the County Road area of Kirkdale said the gang regularly ride dangerously in the area and claim dozens of bikes have been stolen by its members in recent months.
One local, who did not wish to be named, said: “They take the bikes from here and go to Skelmersdale. They meet up with other groups in an area around the Digmoor Road estate.
“They drive around a couple of places right on the borderline between Merseyside and Lancashire police. They know they can go between the areas and it’s harder for the police to track.”
The source claimed recent incidents of bricks being thrown at police cars in Skelmersdale, on Mischief Night last year, involved members of the gang.
Police have been operating a crackdown on the gang, in which a 43-yearold woman and a teenage boy were arrested during a raid in Cockerell Close in Kirkdale.
Three bikes were also seized after being intercepted by police on Sunday February 24. Officers said that a number of scrambler bikes were seen driving dangerously through red traffic lights and performing stunts along the East Lancashire Road between Kirkby and St Helens.
One man, who did not wish to be named, previously told the Liverpool ECHO how he recognised his stolen Lexmoto scooter on an Instagram page, with a teenage boy posing next to it.
The photo of the bike, stolen on December 9, had been edited using a “laughing face” emoji to hide the rider’s face.
The dad, who is in his 40s, said: “I am a relatively new biker and I wanted it to travel to work. It took me a few months to save up as I have a family to support as well.
“I woke up one morning and it was gone. They had ripped the gate off from my backyard and I assume they have hot-wired it. I reported it straight away.
“Seeing them posing with it knocked me sick to my stomach. Apart from the fact they appear to be covering up their faces it’s almost as if they are proud of what they are doing.”
Community Inspector Graeme Rooney, of Merseyside police, previously said: “We know the massive impact theft of vehicles can have on victims the expense of repairing or replacing them, paying insurance premiums and the inconvenience of not having a vehicle that may be essential for getting around.
“We take bike theft extremely seriously and continue our efforts to tackle it, regularly assessing hotspot areas across the force and directing resources accordingly.”
Anyone with information on the anti-social and nuisance use of off-road bikes is encouraged to keep reporting incidents to @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference 19100027515 or @ CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 and we will keep taking action #OpBrookdale