Moped-enabled crime

Snatching a phone or bike and riding off because you're poor is "fine" - no one is really hurt aside from financially, and if I had to have a proper crime committed against me, an involuntary donation of a few hundred pounds (i.e. my phone) to a non-violent poor person is about the best one I could pick.

However, disfiguring someone with acid shows a level of callousness and sadism that means you aren't safe to be around other people, and no one should be attempting to excuse behaviour like that. A lack of opportunities doesn't give you the right to ruin someone else's life forever.

And it just happened. Here. My GF was there. and saw it.

Woman got knocked off her bike and had it stolen by two kids on a moped. Mrs Bear thinks she might have a broken arm. Said it was brutal how violent they were.

Completely disagree with the first bit, but agree with the second bit- either these people somehow don't understand the consequences (despite everything in the news), or are displaying literally psychopathic behaviour.

fuck, thats awful!

From the description I reckon it was the same two that pulled up next to me the other night.

hmm I think I am going to ask the missus to hold off cycling for some time, Crol has a CCTV outside? I think one of those traffic lights has.

GF with Police now giving a statement. They were on a stolen ped wearing grey hoodies and skull masks. What's the CCTV gonna tell us?

I don't think you should do that. She's still very very unlikely to get attacked.

She is there (and other bits of Q1) at a little later time than usual in the evening with less bike traffic .. mornings are fine.

Ride straight down the OKR instead?

Christ, that's terrible.

I was thinking this the other day as I cycled home. I take my watch off when I cycle and put it in my brompton bag, alongside MBP, Bose QC35s and waterproof etc. Can I get insurance for this, would my home insurance policy cover it? With the spate of acid attacks I wouldn't think twice about letting them just take the bike.

Yeah it's pretty scary.

At 6ft tall and a man I'd expect them to have to be very violent very quickly if they were planning on nicking a bike form someone like me.

Which only makes it scarier.

.

Police said they've had a spate of attacks in the last fortnight in SE1/SE16, same two mopeds and same description of riders.

The fact that they can use a corrosive acid in a spray bottle is what puts me off even considering putting up a fight. Life is too short.

Yeah, it's proper grimmers.

I saw a moped rider balaclava-ed with a helmet parked here yesterday on the way home. There were loads of cyclists when I rode through though.

Oh, it's v quiet there some times.

literally all the time except the peak commuting hours

Did you just say it's OK for someone to steal my bike or phone because they don't have one?

I think he's saying it ok if the only other option is chucking acid in your boatrace

They're not stealing a loaf of bread to survive. They're stealing things that not everybody can afford to replace, to benefit themselves and line their pockets. They can fuck off, its not fine whatsoever.

A lesser wrong isn't a right though. Of course I'd give up my bike and all my possessions without a fight if it meant not having acid thrown in my face. But its still not fine

Granted, though expecting crims to have any kind of scruples is being optimistic.

Thats the point Dov is making, you don't get the choice. I will also happily give my bike away if there is a choice.