LONDON’S hire bikes are being used as getaway vehicles by muggers, official new research has revealed.
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Between May and July this year, according to figures unearthed by the BBC under a Freedom of Information Act request, at least three gangs of muggers have ridden away on ‘Boris’ bikes after committing robberies in central London.
In all three cases, victims aged between 13 and 23 were robbed of their mobile phones before their attackers disappeared on the easy-to-spot blue bikes. In only one of the three cases were any of the robbers caught – a male assailant who was handed a six-month referral order.
On the plus side for the blue bikes, London Mayor Boris Johnson has said the hire scheme will soon be extended some way south of the river, first to Stockwell and then on to Brixton and Clapham.
“It’s really good news that the bike-hire scheme is coming to Stockwell,” said Lambeth Council leader Steve Reed.
“We will continue to campaign for the scheme to be extended to Brixton and Clapham so more local people can make use of the bikes.”
