Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Moped gang crime
Just been victim of a moped gang while I was on my way home from work.
I was nearly there, 100 metres away, and that's when I saw them riding in the opposite direction like twats and thought to myself "dickheads" (it's even recorded on my helmet camera before the battery died literally 2 seconds later).
I didn't see it, but they must have noticed the bike I ride (it's the most wanted one by these thugs) and they must have U-turned and followed me home.
When I got home, I turned off the bike and opened my flip-up helmet, I was reversing into my private parking bay when the 2 mopeds showed up and started shouting at me.
2 guys on each moped, so 4 guys in total, all wearing black, helmets on and balaclavas.
First thing I thought is a BBC video report I saw where this gang stopped a guy on his bike and used a fire extinguisher on him and knocked him off the bike, so I instantly closed my helmet, started the bike and shot off, desperately looking for a Police car, but they engaged me in a scary high-speed chase (40/50mph) through the streets of Haringey in the rush hour traffic.
I broke every possible road rule (and I later told that to the police, they were ok with that), but no fucking way they would put their hands on my bike, also because under the seat I had my work laptop.
Anyway, the chase ended in Seven Sisters Road, I was overtaking the stationary traffic going from the junction with St.Ann's Road towards Manor House, with one of the mopeds closely following me (by that point I lost track of the other moped) when I got to a point just after Netherton Road and Vartry Road where there's a small traffic aisle in the middle of the road.
I saw it at the very last second and dodged it by going to the opposite lane but the guys on the moped behind me were not so quick at seeing it and smashed straight into it, destroying the moped and falling off the bike, while hitting an incoming white van.
Seeing them crash in the mirror I stopped and U-turned, I was seriously ready to see them bleed out on the road and possibly beat them on top of that but they had already gone, including the moped.
Fortunately there was an ambulance parked right there so I stopped by it, knocked on their windows and told them to call the Police immediately for me as I was being chased.
In the meantime a guy on foot who witnessed everything, stopped by and told us they moved the crashed moped to an estate up the road, 50 metres away, so one of the two guys from the ambulance went to check and confirmed it was there but they took off the number plate.
Anyway, the Police arrived after a few minutes, took all the details etc. They went to check the moped and found out from the serial number on the frame that it was NOT stolen, so hopefully they'll be able to track the owner.
Dreadful experience, I’m still shaking and my heart is pounding like crazy.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Protheroe O'Shea on
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madness.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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It must have been very scary for you, but I hope you feel some sense of victory in that you remained unharmed, kept all your possessions and saw them done down as a result.
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Permalink Reply by Luca on
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It was horrible, but yeah, some silver lining...
The problem now is that they know where I live and where the bike is parked overnight.
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Yes I can imagine that being a concern.
I should think the risks are small, but by way of heightening your sense of security, would it be worth thinking about a cheap video home security kit and movement sensitive lighting at the front of your house? I know it's all unwelcome expense, but it may not be as expensive as you fear.
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I live in a block and my widows face the other side from our parking lot... :(
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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Two big fat chains and preferably a ground anchor? These brats rely on intimidation not brute force. Different from the bicycle thieves with their bolt cutters.
Well done you for not giving up. Too risky for me.
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Already have two Hardie Secure ground anchors, two 19mm Almax chains and two disc locks, plus I cover it every night.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Yikes! Were you not the bloke assaulted by the Earl of Seven Sisters a while back? I completely understand your desire to outrun them.
Ever thought of getting an e-bike? Quite a pick up on them and a friend in Stockholm has one that gets 70kmph after it was "chipped by a German".
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Yes, that was me! It was a completely different situation but this crime wave that hit London in the past couple of years is seriously making me consider move to a country where the Police actually do something.
I mean, WTF, last night they didn't even give me a crime reference number!! All they told me is "go home and be safe". How am I supposed to be safe if they don't protect me and I'm not allowed to defend myself?
Nah, I wouldn't go for an e-bike, I like a proper motorbike. Well, technically mine is a maxiscooter but still... The freedom you get with a motorbike is not the same as a bicycle.
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ebikes are the future. 70kph if you can adjust the firmware on the Bosch kit they're all made with.
On the one hand I feel sorry for the Police as they're having to do the same job with fewer officers. On the other hand I feel, aren't we all?
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Permalink Reply by Madeline on
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SH*T! I think I would have died of shock. I had an attempted hijacking a couple of years ago where four kids on pushbikes surrounded me at traffic lights. Nobody came to my aid. I think it was their first attempt, just trying out their technique for the future.
CCTV is only as good as the people watching it, it is no deterrent to these lowlifes who have no fear. Can you find a way of fitting a secret switch/immobiliser? I know it won't stop them taking the bike away but if they can't get it started you may have a chance of getting it back. Another idea is to deflate your tyres each time. Maybe you can get one of those battery powered tyre inflators to use first thing?
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