Bilal Ali, a recovery agent at BackPedal specializing in retrieving stolen e-bikes, is currently searching near Waterloo for a delivery cyclist’s stolen bicycle.
Only 0.6% of bike theft incidents in London this year have led to charges, prosecutions, or cautions.
Mr. Ali, equipped with a scanner to track a device attached to the bike, likened the pursuit to a “game of cat and mouse.”
As first reported by London Centric, of the 6,721 bicycles stolen and reported to the Metropolitan Police from January to July, merely 39 resulted in a “positive outcome.”
After picking up an intermittent GPS signal, Mr. Ali approached a black front door, looked through the letterbox, and spotted the missing bicycle in the communal hallway.
Upon explaining the situation to a fellow resident, he was granted access and successfully retrieved the bike, returning it to its rightful owner.
“It may sound unbelievable,” Mr. Ali remarked, “but nine times out of ten, it’s that simple.”
“I assured him we could discuss it calmly, with no need to involve the police, and the courier got his bike back.”
“Thankfully, he doesn’t have to cover his [insurance] deductible, and we can help him get back to work.”
Viny Bodhani had his £1,700 bicycle—his primary commuting method—taken from a repair shop on the North Circular.
Mr. Bodhani, a resident of Southgate, turned to BackPedal for assistance in recovering his bike.
He stated, “We understand the police are overwhelmed, as are many public services, and sadly, I just don’t think they have the capacity to assist us, making it heartbreaking to have such low expectations of recovering your bike.”
“Unfortunately, we seem to be in a situation where if your bike is stolen, it’s likely gone for good, leaving you with financial losses, not to mention the impact on your work and life.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police acknowledged the serious effects of bike theft on victims, saying, “We understand the significant inconvenience and expenses it causes.”
“We assure you that we will investigate all reported incidents, in addition to conducting increased patrols and operations throughout London when necessary.”
