Man arrested following electric bike robberies in Birkenhead

We have arrested an 18-year-old man and are appealing for information after reports of several robberies of electric bikes in Birkenhead on Sunday 7 July.

At around 2.10pm it was reported that a man was being chased on Hoylake Road by two males on a motorbike and a male on a sur-ron electric moped carrying a knife near to junction of St James Church/Tollemache Road.

Dashcam footage also showed the man being chased into a garden on Hoylake Road. The male then left the area in a blue Ford vehicle. 

At around 2.15pm police received a report of a robbery on Ashburton Road at the other end of Tollemache Road. It was reported that two teenage boys who were riding a black and red GTE Pantera electric bike were approached by two males on a black sur-ron electric bike and another male on a black and red motorbike. One of the males tried to take the bike and then punched the teenage boy in the face. He pulled out a machete and threatened the boy before one of the other males stole the bike and made off from the area. 

Just after 8pm police received a third report that around one hour earlier a man had been approached in Birkenhead Town Centre by three males on a moped and an electric bike who stole his Cube Hybrid bike and threatened him with a machete. 

An investigation is underway and after carrying out initial CCTV enquiries in the area officers have arrested an 18-year-old boy from Ford Way, Upton on suspicion of robbery. He was also arrested for numerous driving offences and assaulting an emergency worker. 

Detective Inspector Sarah Wilkinson said: “These were violent and terrifying attacks in our community which left three victims fearing for their own safety.
 
“Although we have made an arrest we are still searching for the other suspects and believe there have been further incidents involving this group, which may have gone unreported.  Therefore we are appealing to anyone who may have seen the three males on Sunday 7 July to contact us.

“If you were on Hoylake Road, James Church or in Birkenhead town centre and saw the three suspects on their bikes on Sunday during the time of these incidents please contact us.

“Our officers will immediately respond to any incidents involving knife crime and are committed in removing anyone who stores, carries and uses weapons through proactive use of stop and search powers, open land searches, warrants and education work alongside partners. 

“Our local officers are also providing an increased police presence in the area including officers in plain clothes on e-bikes. 

“We will continue to seek out those involved in knife crime, who carry weapons or are involved in gangs, but we also need your support.

“Information from our community is vital if we are to stop such violent crimes that causes fear in our communities.
  
“If you have any further information about these incidents, please contact our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook using reference 24000594795.”

Those who have bikes can also take advantage of security measures to help prevent theft or robberies.

Bike Register is the UK’s national bike marking and registration scheme, which helps to reduce cycle theft, identify stolen bikes and return recovered bikes to their rightful owners.

Officers are actively checking bikes on our Bike Register to see if they have been reported as lost or stolen. This has now resulted in a large number of stolen bikes being returned to their rightful owners. 

Merseyside Police holds bike marking events throughout the year, information about upcoming events can be found on our social media pages.

For more practical tips on how to protect your bike from theft, visit: Protect your bike from theft | Merseyside Police

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: Give information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org).