Thieves cut locks to take bicycle girl, 11, saved for

7:00am Monday 19th March 2012 in News By Emma Dunn

11-year-old Emily Usher and her dad Paul whose bicycles were stolen from outside McDonalds in Wharf Green 11-year-old Emily Usher and her dad Paul whose bicycles were stolen from outside McDonalds in Wharf Green

A SCHOOLGIRL has been left heartbroken after thieves stole the bike she bought with money she was given for Christmas.

Emily Usher and her father, Paul, of Taw Hill, had locked their bikes in Wharf Green when both of their bikes were stolen.

Emily, 11, a pupil at Bradon Forest School, had bought her £180 silver and black bike with money she had been given for Christmas and Paul said he was more worried about losing her bike than his own £2,200 bike.

Paul, 36, who is a health and safety officer, said: “We went out for a bike ride and decided we would go to town and pick a few things up. We pushed the bikes through town and locked them up outside McDonalds. It is busy and there is a camera and a sign which warns you’re on CCTV.

“We locked our bikes on the metal protective cover around the trees. When we came back they had cut through the lock.

“I spoke to a friend and he is 99 per cent positive he saw them pass by Fleming Way.”

Paul’s bike is a Cube XMS and is brushed aluminium and black in colour. It has road tyres rather than mountain bike tyres.

Emily’s bike is a silver and black Dunlop bike.

“My bike was very high spec, but more importantly my poor daughter’s bike was taken as well,” he said.

“She was devastated.”

The bikes were locked up at about 12.30pm on March 10 and it is thought they were taken by two men between 1.50-2.10pm.

“In total it’s nearly £2,500 worth. I am not happy. Why should I go to work to fund things like this? They have no right to take our bikes,” said Paul.

Emily said: “We were just walking down to where we had put our bikes and we saw that our bikes had gone. I didn’t really know what to do.

“I think they should have bought their own bikes. I had been waiting about seven months for a new bike when I bought that one in January. I think they should give it back but I don’t know if they will.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said witnesses saw the men make off in the direction of Fleet Street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Larcombe at Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Comments(16)

oldbutawake says...
8:45am Mon 19 Mar 12

Why not publish the CCTV pictures? People might recognise the thieves.

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nobody says...
9:04am Mon 19 Mar 12

I would not lock any bikes in the town centre, there are too many thieves looking for easy money.
Sad reflection on society that in broad daylight, probably right in front of people, they were able to cut locks and no-one said anything.

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Robfm says...
9:17am Mon 19 Mar 12

oldbutawake you are right it is quite ridiculous when posting them could reveal their identity.

You may recall the theft of the charity boxes from the Rat Trap last week the images of the two offenders are very clear, someone would definitely know the culprits, but to my knowledge they haven't been released either.

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umpcah says...
9:18am Mon 19 Mar 12

Alas bike theft is nothing new in Swindon. My daughter left her bike outside a sweetshop for a few minutes and it was gone when she came out. It was probably wheeled to a waiting van and sold to order in another town .

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LordAshOfTheBrake says...
9:38am Mon 19 Mar 12

Yes, why not publish the CCTV pictures.


The true reality is that most CCTV that was put up was a waste of time and money. It use to act as a deterrent, but now that most criminals realise the pictures are too grainy and lack clarity they are routinely ignored.

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Robh says...
9:47am Mon 19 Mar 12

The trouble with CCTV is the same as fixed speed cameras. Everyone knows where they are and avoids them or simply doesn't look at them.

They have never been a deterent against crime because they only record it not stop it.

Bobbies around the town centre is the only true deterent you can't expect the public to step in every time.

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PaulD says...
11:24am Mon 19 Mar 12

Just a thought, is it possible that the bikes were removed by the couincil due to where they were locked up? Probably not the case, I know.

Isn't there a secure compound for bikes in the Brunel car park?

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Hmmmf says...
11:44am Mon 19 Mar 12

£2,200.00 for a bicycle. Mind-boggling. Wonder how much he spent on the lock?

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nobody says...
11:57am Mon 19 Mar 12

Hmmmf wrote:
£2,200.00 for a bicycle. Mind-boggling. Wonder how much he spent on the lock?
Strange that a search on the internet shows a brand new 2012 Cube XMS can be bought for, at most, £1200.

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WoodsideLady says...
1:03pm Mon 19 Mar 12

Very sorry to read this but Paul, having now announced the value of your bike I'd be very careful where you leave it now!!!

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Wigmeister says...
1:43pm Mon 19 Mar 12

The headline should read: "11 year old would like a free bike please, blah blah!"

There is secure bicycle parking just yards away and cycle stands all over the town centre so why use the metal railings around the trees on Wharf Green? Couldn't be bothered to walk a few extra yards which is bizarre having just cycled in from Taw Hill. Duh!

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Robfm of ukip says...
5:39pm Mon 19 Mar 12

I think everything should be done to catch these thieves and bring them to justice.
Despicable

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Robh says...
6:11pm Mon 19 Mar 12

Robfm of ukip wrote:
I think everything should be done to catch these thieves and bring them to justice.
Despicable
New handle then?? I think not.

Of course to some I'm Mr Bluh!!!

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Itssomewheretowork says...
8:03pm Mon 19 Mar 12

These look like sensible people and in that case as they did not use the secure cycle parking nearby or the proper cycle stands and the total bike value is such a large figure, they will have taken the sensible approach of taking out cycle insurance? Good luck with filling in the claim forms.

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Bored of Robfm says...
8:30pm Mon 19 Mar 12

Robh wrote:
Robfm of ukip wrote:
I think everything should be done to catch these thieves and bring them to justice.
Despicable
New handle then?? I think not.

Of course to some I'm Mr Bluh!!!
Really?
Seriously?
Who cares?

Report this post »

Always Grumpy says...
7:06am Wed 21 Mar 12

Robh wrote:
Robfm of ukip wrote:
I think everything should be done to catch these thieves and bring them to justice.
Despicable
New handle then?? I think not.

Of course to some I'm Mr Bluh!!!
Are you?
If you are, then I want to go back to weekly bin collections - can you sort it?

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