Moped gang try to steal motorbike... by spraying its owner with a fire extinguisher
THIS is the terrifying moment a moped gang blasted a fire extinguisher at a motorcyclist in a bid to steal his bike.
The victim’s helmet camera captured the images as he was ambushed by thugs and knocked to the ground.
Police believe the mob pictured is responsible for at least seven other similar crimes in Barking and Dagenham, East London.
They are among hundreds of criminals using scooters, mopeds and motorcycles to run amok in the capital and other cities.
Officers are fighting a terrifying epidemic of thefts, robberies and attacks, with the number of offences rising by 600 per cent in two years. It is believed that thieves on
‘This is 50,000 crimes a year’
scooters and pedal bikes are committing up to 50,000 offences a year.
The latest attack caught on camera took place on April 18 as the 58-year-old victim rode through Ilford, East London.
The footage, released yesterday, shows the rider suddenly being stopped by seven thugs on four mopeds who fire the foam extinguisher at him and push him off his bike. Unable to take his vehicle, they fled empty-handed through rush-hour traffic.
Last week moped thieves hounded a scooter rider ‘for miles’ in an effort to steal his vehicle before their 19-year-old victim crashed and was left sprawled on the roadside with a serious leg injury.
In other incidents, masked thugs have wielded hammers and crowbars as in attempts to rob tourists on the West End.
Hot spots for the crimes include Hackney, Islington, Camden and Westminster, with gangs often trying to snatch phones from distracted pedestrians. Detectives say they are targeting at least 500 known offenders behind the crime spree.
Commander Julian Bennett, who is responsible for an operation to tackle the menace, said: ‘This is coming up to 50,000 crimes a year so it is a significant issue.
‘This is a serious crime because of the risk to everyone involved, including the riders, pedestrians and the victims of the snatch. This is completely unacceptable.’ Many of the 1,500 scooters and motorcycles stolen in London every month are used by thieves to commit dozens more offences.
The machines are relatively cheap and easily stolen when left parked on the street.
Superintendent Mark Payne said the ‘average thief’ can steal a scooter in less than 40 seconds.