Middle-aged women took off with my vintage bike
THIEVES who stole a vintage bicycle from outside a boutique in Dublin have been unmasked as two middle-aged women.
Their exposure follows CSO figures released this month showing that at least 100 bicycles were stolen every week in the first six months of the year.
Bronagh O’Sullivan, owner of Bow And Pearl boutique, has had the bicycle, a 1950s relic, outside her shop for three years. Until this week, it was a decoration to attract the attention of passing shoppers.
‘It was shocking, really disappointing. We are really hoping to get it back soon, it’s a beautiful piece,’ said Ms O’Sullivan of the theft.
The bicycle is so heavy that she has never cycled it herself but uses it to display flowers. While she and her staff kept an eye on it, they never really believed someone would walk off with it.
On viewing CCTV footage after the theft in Ranelagh, Ms O’Sullivan was shocked to see who the thieves were.
‘It’s not your stereotypical idea of somebody who would rob a bicycle. Women stop outside the shop all the time to look in, it was a bit shocking to see them.’
The footage was passed on to Donnybrook garda station. A Garda spokesman confirmed they are investigating but that no arrests have yet been made.
The vintage piece was given to Ms O’Sullivan by Jack Grace from nearby Ranelagh Cycles.
‘It would be worth about €650, it’s a messenger’s bike,’ he said. ‘There wouldn’t be great re-sale value for this, it’s only good for display really. The only funny thing about this is who stole it, it’s usually younger kids or blokes in vans.’
The footage clearly shows two middle-aged women hovering near the bike. Dressed in padded coats and carrying shopping, they seem oblivious to the camera recording them.
At first the pair seem to be looking at the window display, but they edge closer to the bike within seconds. One woman then stands with her back to the window as the other casually takes hold of the handlebars and wheels the bicycle away. They walk off chatting.
Muireann O’Dea of the Dublin Cycling Campaign said theft had doubled since the Bike to Work scheme was introduced in 2009. The campaign is calling for better bike security in public places, including train stations and college campuses.
‘We need more secure parking in the city centre especially. I’m sure some of these bikes are sold online,’ she said.
‘We are in discussions with online retailers to get them to ask sellers to provide more information.’
She advises people to note the serial number of their bicycle and to take a photograph posing next to the bike as evidence if the stolen bike is tracked down.
CSO figures show that around Ireland only one in 10 stolen bicycles is recovered.