‘Audacious’ theft of bicycles

Press, 14 December 1985, Page 1

‘Audacious’ theft of bicycles

Several stolen bicycles are expected to be offered for sale in Christchurch after the "audacious” burglary of a central-city store. Cycles, riding accessories and tools worth more than $9OOO were taken in a well planned raid on the Manchester Street branch of the Penny Farthing Cycle Shop on Tuesday night. The company’s director, Mr lan Methven, believes the stolen cycles will be offered for sale as Christmas gifts. The haul included a

woman’s green Burton touring cycle, valued at $7OO, and an imported Hutch ProRacer BMX cycle, valued at $B5O. The chrome-plated American-built BMX cycle is thought to be the only one of its type in the South Island. More than 15 other cycles, including men’s and women’s 10-speeds, BMXs and children’s tricycles, were also taken. Mr Methven described the raid as audacious. The burglars entered the premises by climbing on to

the roof and smashing the window of an office on the building’s second floor. Rows of cycles stacked in a loading bay awaiting repair were wheeled into an adjacent workshop, and a truck was driven in through the goods entrance. A mechanical hoist was used to lower cycles into the loading bay from a storeroom on the second floor. Other cycles were carried down a flight of stairs after the burglars had stacked cardboard packing cases against the banister to

conceal their work from passers-by in the street. Internal security lights, which the staff leave on all night, were turned off by the burglars. Mr Methven estimates that it would have taken the burglars more than two hours to shift the cycles downstairs and load them into a truck.. Many of the stolen cycles had been ordered by customers for Christmas presents. The burglars also found time to ransack Mr Meth-

ven’s office, although only a small quantity of cash was taken. It was the second time the company’s Christchurch stores have been raided this year. On October 13 burglars broke into the Tuam Street branch and stole 12 cycles, valued at $3OOO. A sledge-hammer was used to remove a side door and frame from a brick wall.

Mr Methven believes the same group of burglars was responsible for both raids.