Boy ‘devastated’ after bike stolen at school

Mum highlights fears over public walkway through playground

A Dundee mum has raised security concerns about a public path that cuts through a school playground after her son’s bike was stolen from the premises.

Jane Mcintosh’s nine-year-old son Rhys was “devastated” to find his bike missing from the grounds of Craigiebarns Primary School earlier this week.

Jane, who is on the school’s parent partnership, said the group has been campaigning for years to get Dundee City Council to restrict public access through the playground.

The 40-year-old, from Craigie, said: “The school building itself is secure but there is a public walkway through playground.

“Anyone can just walk through. It’s not safe, and I’d have thought after Dunblane security would be a lot tighter at every school.

“We’ve been trying to have something done about it for ages.

“He hasn’t even had the bike for a full year and it’s gone. He got it from Santa and he was so happy – he uses it all the time.

MUM JANE MCINTOSH

“Rhys left his bike at the bike rack. It wasn’t secured because he lent his bike lock to his sister.

“It went missing some time between 8.45am and 3.15pm on Tuesday.

“Another parent said that they saw a man in his 20s cycling fast on the footpath through the playground that day, but of course it could be a coincidence.”

Jane explained that Rhys, who is tall for his age, had a small adult bike – a £130 black Apollo Slant with white and red stripes.

He got the bike for Christmas and has used it every day to cycle to and from school, as well as at the weekends to cycle with his friends.

Jane added: “Rhys is devastated. “He hasn’t even had the bike for a full year and it’s gone.

“He got it from Santa and he was so happy – he uses it all the time.

“Now he can’t join his friends at the weekend when they cycle together.

“I’m disgusted that someone would do this.

“I would urge anyone buying a second hand bike from someone else or from selling sites to keep an eye out.

“The bike is in mint condition so it wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to sell it.”

A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “If parents or families have any concerns, they can contact the head teacher to discuss these directly.”

Rhys Mcintosh with his bicycle last Christmas.