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@Tea_Bee
How about let's fucking not shall we...
The five-oh don't chase anyone ON a bike, because they have direction that it's dangerous to the scrote who's riding off on your bike, so they don't give chase. If they injure the thief, they can get sued, I think is the reason. Doesn't seem like a good one to me, but I don't get to make the rules of engagement.
On the other hand, someone stealING a bike isn't ON it yet. And they're stationary, so they're easy to find. OK, they may not have a car just sitting waiting to round 'em up etc. etc. but the police aren't always out shouting "you slaaag" and banging up wrong'uns who look a bit Irish. They may have a car nearby at a loose end.
The same is true of muggings to bike theft, once it's gone, it's gone. WHat can they do? "What did he look like?" "Well he looked a bit like one of those fairground types..." "And can you identify this money in your wallet? Did it have any distinguishing marks?" It's the same difference AFTER the fact.
There's a world of difference between "someone is stealing a bike" and "someone stole my bike". They take an in-progress theft more seriously. It's just once they're gone, the feds can't doo too much.