A top-end bike store in Bradley Stoke is offering a “big reward” after four mountain bikes believed to have a total value in excess of £16,000 were stolen in a brazen burglary.
The Giant Bristol store at the Willow Brook shopping centre, which faces onto Bradley Stoke Way and sits directly beneath the centre’s security control room, was raided at around 9pm on Sunday 19th September.
Police say two males forced their way into the shop and snatched four distinctive high-value mountain bikes.
Entry was made by smashing a glass panel in an external door on the side of the store that faces out onto the main road.
The security control room at the centre is staffed 24/7 and the door which the thieves forced is in good view of one of the centre’s CCTV cameras.
It is understood that the thieves were able to grab the bikes and make off on foot northwards up Bradley Stoke Way before security staff arrived at the scene.
There is a suggestion that they may have then crossed over the main road and entered the woods on the opposite side, but this has not been confirmed by the police.
Asked how long it took for the police to respond to the incident, a force spokesperson told the Journal:
“Unfortunately when this was reported at 9.05pm all units were committed. The first unit available and subsequently dispatched happened at 9.34pm. The area was searched but there was no trace of the offenders.”
The spokesperson added:
“Crime scene investigators have carried out a forensic examination of the shop and CCTV has been reviewed. The investigation continues.”
Staff at the Giant store said one of the stolen bikes was thought to be “the only one of its type in the country”.
The model types of the Giant-brand bikes which were stolen in the raid have been listed as:
- Reign Advanced Pro 29
- Trance 29 3
- Trance X Advanced Pro 29 Carbon
- Reign 29
Anyone who has seen these bikes or witnessed the break-in should call 101 and give reference number 5221218452.
This article originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on pages 26 & 27). The magazine is delivered FREE, nine times a year, to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
