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MULTIPLE bike thefts have caused some Wokingham residents to question the safety of their neighbourhood.
Amy Biddle and Sedat Ozalpdemir, who both live on the new Shinfield Meadows estate, have had bikes stolen from locked enclosures in the past month.
In Mrs Biddle’s case, a neighbour was able to provide footage of the theft, having installed a security camera last year. They too had had their bike stolen from the same communal shed on Bolton Drive.
The thief can be seen breaking into the shed before grinding through a lock to steal the mountain bike.
On seeing the footage, Mrs Biddle said: “It puts you on edge, watching it. It’s one thing knowing the bike’s been stolen, but seeing exactly how it happened is unsettling.
“To be honest, it’s almost made us feel like [Shinfield] is not such a nice area. I’m worried if we get a new bike, it’ll get taken as well.”
The bicycle was locked and stored in a bike shed which was protected by a coded lock.
The video shows the thief breaking into the shed, using what Mrs Biddle suspects to be a chisel and hammer.
They can then be seen cutting through the bike lock with an instrument which appeared to be an angle grinder.
Husband Alex Biddle noticed the bike had disappeared on Friday, October 7. The couple contacted the police and submitted a police request on the same day.
Frustrated by a lack of communication, Mr Biddle took to social media to raise awareness of their situation and ask if anyone had seen the bike.
He received a direct message from someone who claimed to have seen a bike, similar to the one he had described, in South Reading, except the colour of the handles were different – they were red, not black.
Mrs Biddle explained: “This is part of the frustration, the longer it takes for the police to act, the further the thieves will get and the more they can modify the bike so it’s harder to identify.
“To be honest, I don’t think I’ll get the bike back.”
Having heard of other bike thefts in the area, Mrs Biddle suggested the area might be targeted by thieves who see Shinfield Meadows as a profitable target.
Sedat Ozalpdemir had a similar experience. His bike and stroller were stolen on Monday, September 19, the day of the Queen’s funeral.
Once again, the bike was secured in a locked bike shed. According to Mr Ozalpdemir, the thief broke into the enclosure and ripped the lock apart.
He said: “The bike [theft] was very sad for me because it was a very expensive item. Also, we were doing country trips with my son, our social life was totally affected.
“Another issue that upset me was the indifference of the police, they didn’t come and ask about it.”
Mr Ozalpdemir said he is questioning whether Shinfield is as safe as he had believed when he moved to England one year ago. He believes a lack of urgency from the police will only lead to more thefts.
He explained: “I have small children and I don’t really feel safe anymore. Thieves break into my house in my dreams.
“In third world countries, thieves can act so easily. Unfortunately, these situations harm the image of England.”
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police (TVP), said: “Thames Valley Police will investigate all crimes that are reported and will follow all reasonable lines of enquiry to investigate them and bring offenders to justice.
“If all reasonable lines of enquiry have been followed then a crime may be filed pending any further information coming to light.”
Regarding Mrs Biddle’s case, TVP confirmed an investigation is ongoing following the report, although no arrests had been made.
They urged anyone with any further information to please contact TVP on 101 quoting reference 43220451849.
Of Mr Ozalpdemir’s case, the spokesperson for TVP said: “We can confirm that this incident was reported to us however there are not thought to be any witnesses, forensic or other lines of enquiry for us to investigate further.
“As such this has been filed pending further information coming to light. If anyone has any information they should call 101 quoting reference 43220451849.”
