Two thieves on a moped jumped on the team car in London and threatened the team manager with a knife
British cycling team JAKROO Handsling Racing by Promethean Sports has been targetted in an armed robbery in London, where armed thieves pulled team bikes off the team car roof rack. One of the managers who tried to intervene was threatened with a knife.
Though the raiders tried to grab two of the team's bikes, they only escaped with one. However, the bike left behind on the roof rack was badly damaged, with the frame broken in two places.
The incident took place in on Saturday just before 3pm on a residential street in Putney, southwest London. The team said the two raiders were wearing balaclavas.
"One of them jumped onto the team manager's car and physically ripped the bikes off the locked rack, while the other waited on the moped," it said in a statement.
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"When confronted by one of the team managers, one of the thieves brandished a large knife and threatened them. The thieves then sped away with one of our red Jakroo Handsling bikes.
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"They left the other one completely destroyed, hanging mangled off the roof rack. Police have been informed. This wasn't overnight theft. This was broad daylight, in a residential street, in front of witnesses.
"A neighbour captured video of the incident, which we are sharing here in the hope that we raise awareness and push efforts to improve safety on our streets and safety for cyclists."
The team urged anyone with information to contact team or the London Met Police.
"Bike theft in London has become organised and brazen," it added. "Today it crossed the line into violent robbery. Senseless really, when you realise how much damage the bikes sustained as they were in the process of being stolen."
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