Former downhill mountain bike world champion Manon Carpenter has had thousands of pounds worth of bikes stolen from a house in Caerphilly town.
Eight mountain bikes and two motorbikes were stolen from her parents’ garage between 7pm on Sunday November 22 and this morning, November 24.
The incident comes amidst a spike in garage break-ins across Caerphilly County Borough.
Carpenter won silver in the UCI World Championships and UCI World Cup this year after winning double gold in 2014.
The Caerphilly rider said one of the bikes stolen was used in this year’s competition and features specialist team parts and ‘World Championship’ stickers on the forks.
She said: “That one’s sentimental because I won silver on it, and it’s worth about seven grand. A lot of them are training bikes so obviously I need them back to train.
“There’s quite a lot of it going on at the moment. One of the junior boys had his stolen. That was in Nelson.
“We thought our garage was pretty secure, but they got in so people need to be aware and if you do know anything, these people should be caught.”
Her father, Jason Carpenter, appealed on Facebook for information.
He wrote: “Had all mine and Manon’s bikes stolen from the garage last night.
“Anyone know (sic) anything please let me know who these people are.”
Items stolen include:
- A KTM EXC 250 off road motorbike – black and orange in colour
- A 2011 KTM XC 150 off road motorbike – black and orange in colour
- A Dartmoor Dirtjump mountain bike – Phantom model – with gears and Fox 831 forks – black in colour with white lettering.
- A 2013 Saracen Kili Flyer mountain bike with suspension – black and bright green in colour
- A 2014 Saracen Aerial 150 suspension mountain bike – silver, red and black in colour
- A 2013 Saracen AVLX Dirtjump mountain bike with gears and Fox 831 Forks – all black in colour
- A 2015 Saracen Kili Flyer mountain bike, full carbon fibre with full suspension – silver and black in colour with “Saracen” written on frame
- A 2015 Saracen Aerial 150 mountain bike with full suspension – black and silver in colour with black and orange Fox Forks
- A 2015 Saracen Myst Downhill race bike – black, white and red in colour
- A 2016 prototype Saracen Myst Downhill mountain bike – black and red in colour with “Saracen” written on frame
Petrol hedgecutters were also stolen during the break-in.
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “The incident is under investigation.
“Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 37 24/11/15.”
Gwent Police called on residents in Risca, Crosskeys and Pontywaun to be vigilant and extra security concious after a series of burglaries over the last month.
A spokesperson said: “Most incidents are taking place overnight, and stolen items include bicycles, a chainsaw and tool boxes.
“Please ensure your sheds, garages and outbuildings are kept locked and secure at all times.”
A similar warning was made to Caerphilly town residents after seven break-ins over the last four weeks.
Caerphilly Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer, PC Stuart Lewis said: “We are currently investigating each reported crime and asking residents to secure their property.
“Extra patrols have now been put in place by uniformed and plain clothed officers but I also want remind residents to double check their security and please report any suspicious activity immediately by calling Gwent Police on 101 or if you see a crime taking place, call 999.”
Gallery: The stolen bikes
There are thieves cruising the streets of Caerphilly posing as scrap metal collectors, but all they are doing is looking around to see who’s got what and what garages, sheds, houses are easy targets for them. I see them in my street sometimes twice a day – and why would a genuine scrap metal trader visit the same street morning and afternoon, the Police and Caerphilly Council are not doing anything to stop this activity.
The stark fact is that because the police are thin on the ground, (not their fault, but, down to political decisions) these people who raid sheds garages and homes in Caerphilly Town in particular, do so with some ease, the culprits already know that there are ways to exit the towns residential streets and lanes without being captured at all on the Council`s Street CCTV cameras.
With just a few hundred pounds investment the Caerphilly Safety Partnership could add camera units to the existing system at one or two points in the town which would seal the towns exit points and capture the culprits on CCTV, this is regardless of course of the preventative effect such high profil street cameras would give by way of protection to peoples property. Why such a simple move has been rejected by Caerphilly Council is inexplicable, residents have requested it on a number of occassions.
CCTV cameras is only a small bit of the problem. Robbers can simply put up a hood as they walk past, or climb into a car in a non-CCTV covered area before driving off without anyone suspecting the car. Where there is a will…
The biggest problem is the lack of deterrence. The justice system in the UK is such that it pays to commit crime – using expected pay-offs and probabilities:
Caught:
Lose the stolen items, pay a fine, do some community service, or take a stay at one of Her Majesty’s holiday camps.
Not get caught:
Be thousands of pounds better off after selling items.
Probability of getting caught:
Very low. Police cuts, lack of police bothering to investigate, and lack of evidence put the chances in your favour I would say.
Can you see why stealing is so common?
Look at it this way:
There is a circle divided into 36 different sectors. Imagine 23 of them are green and the remaining 13 of them are red. There is a spinner in the middle that, when spun, will point to one sector. If it lands on a green sector you will win £1000, but if it lands on a red sector you must pay £100. You can play the game by spinning the spinner, and you can play an unlimited number of times.
What do you do?
First and foremost, better to catch them in the act and get the items returned to the rightful owner.
The criminal Justice system is a matter for politicians but you are perfectly correct in identifying the `lack of deterent` factor.
I think you also underestimate the fact that someone seen wheeling push bikes through the streets and lanes at 3.30 in the morning or one of the cars or vans you mention exiting certain streets and lanes at the same time would alert even the most dozy camera observer. The police would be alerted and recordings of culprits and vehicle registration numbers could be recorded, and even if they were not captured, culprits would think twice if they thought they may be identified and not take the chance that is why they have well practiced exits out of town away from preying street cameras. IT IS A FACT.
Spot on and it’s only going to get worse..
It is down to the useless police – I gave them the reg number of a van driven by a pair of crooks who offered me stolen power tools in Draethen, a van I have seen many times cruising the side streets and garage blocks around Caerphilly looking for stuff to pinch – the police did absolutely nothing about it.
Dean is right, there is no deterant, these scumbags regard being caught as simply an occupational hazard. I was burgled – the scumbag got 16 days, my phone was stolen from me by an asylum seeker in Cardiff, he was given 100 hrs community service. You could put CCTV on every street corner but it would make no difference if the police and the CPS won’t do their job.
I generally agree, no one will get `caught` if the police dont enforce the law. But, this is down to politicians, again today we are told, (but it remains to be seen) that George Osbourne will be announcing YET MORE fiscal CUTS effecting the ability of the police to protect life and property i.e. “cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property”; but the Oath they take then says ” within the best of my ability”, and the ABILITY to do the job is down to politicians like Tory Chancellor George Osbourne. However, in the case of the proliferation of thefts from sheds, garages and homes, in Caerphilly Town the battle the police fight could only be aided, and culprits and their vehicles identified by just a few more CCTV cameras located in one or two selected places which would prevent thieves leaving the town unrecorded. The rest of course is down to the ability of the people monitoring the cameras and the way police are thereafter deployed.
Many correct comments one this matter. I would also like to suggest that not buying stolen goods would also help a great deal.