Attempted bike robbery Green Dale / Dulwich Hamlet

[Beulah]

My wife was subjected to an attempted robbery for her Brompton bike tonight around 8.20pm on the path that runs from Dulwich Hamlet stadium to Green Dale.

A young man - aged in his teens in a hoodie wearing dark clothing - grabbed her bike and told her to let go of it.

She thinks he was hiding somewhere along that section close to the barriers knowing cyclists have to slow down there.

She refused to give him the bike and started shouting and screaming for help.

Thankfully someone in Shaw Road backing onto the pathway heard and shouted something like ?I?ll call the police?.

That seemed to scare off the attacker, who ran off and my wife made it home with the bike.

My wife is unharmed but shocked and the bike has some slight damage.

But obviously it could have been more serious and I wouldn?t advise putting up a struggle.

So please keep an eye out.

We?ve reported it to police.

And thank you to the person who intervened.

[Cyclemonkey]

Last week my partner intervened when he saw three teenagers harassing a lone woman cyclist on that route. They gave him a bit of lip and slunk off, he reported it to the police non emergency number.

Looks like people should be careful when walking or cycling alone on that route.

[Beulah]

Police are coming to IV my wife today so they appear to be taking it seriously.

I'll mention your incident too.

[Cyclemonkey]

Pleaze do. It was early evening last Wednesday (20 April).

[Earl Aelfheah]

Beulah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My wife was subjected to an attempted robbery for

> her Brompton bike tonight around 8.20pm on the

> path that runs from Dulwich Hamlet stadium to

> Green Dale.

> A young man - aged in his teens in a hoodie

> wearing dark clothing - grabbed her bike and told

> her to let go of it.

> She thinks he was hiding somewhere along that

> section close to the barriers knowing cyclists

> have to slow down there.

> She refused to give him the bike and started

> shouting and screaming for help.

> Thankfully someone in Shaw Road backing onto the

> pathway heard and shouted something like ?I?ll

> call the police?.

> That seemed to scare off the attacker, who ran off

> and my wife made it home with the bike.

> My wife is unharmed but shocked and the bike has

> some slight damage.

> But obviously it could have been more serious and

> I wouldn?t advise putting up a struggle.

>

> So please keep an eye out.

> We?ve reported it to police.

> And thank you to the person who intervened.

Sorry to hear about this, and thanks for the heads up. I hope you're wife isn't too shaken.

[Rockets]

I hope your wife is ok - I wonder if this is the same group that has been stealing phones in the Dulwich area?

[Beulah]

Thanks - my wife is ok just a bit shaken

Actually when the police came round they said Bromptons are easier and more profitable to nick and sell than phones now so it may be the some lot

[SpringTime]

Beulah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My wife was subjected to an attempted robbery for

> her Brompton bike tonight around 8.20pm on the

> path that runs from Dulwich Hamlet stadium to

> Green Dale.

> A young man - aged in his teens in a hoodie

> wearing dark clothing - grabbed her bike and told

> her to let go of it.

> She thinks he was hiding somewhere along that

> section close to the barriers knowing cyclists

> have to slow down there.

> She refused to give him the bike and started

> shouting and screaming for help.

> Thankfully someone in Shaw Road backing onto the

> pathway heard and shouted something like ?I?ll

> call the police?.

> That seemed to scare off the attacker, who ran off

> and my wife made it home with the bike.

> My wife is unharmed but shocked and the bike has

> some slight damage.

> But obviously it could have been more serious and

> I wouldn?t advise putting up a struggle.

>

> So please keep an eye out.

> We?ve reported it to police.

> And thank you to the person who intervened.

Can you give further advice as to the perpetrator's description please?

[first mate]

Yes, as dependence on cycling increases thieves will learn to identify the more expensive models and it is not so difficult for a young male to intimidate a lone woman. Does anyone have some useful advice as to what more vulnerable cyclists can do to protect themselves?

[alice]

Unless s/he had any extraordinary features further description would be meaningless.

[goldilocks]

Perhaps we could stop having chicane barriers on more 'remote paths' - aside from the discrimination under the equalities act angle, they do nothing to stop their stated aim of stopping mopeds driving along there!

There was better lighting put on Greendale a few years ago - but I don't think its particularly dark on that path - but i do think that the fact there are chicane barriers is a safety concern in this instance.

[tedfudge]

Maybe ask the council to install CCTV in that location that may deter these scum from attacking and robbing more people. The next person may not be so lucky

[Beulah]

The copper said he'd raise the issue of CCTV / better protection with the Safer Neighbourhood Team.

I think at the very least, putting cameras either end of that pathway would be something of a deterrent.

My wife's memory of the attacker was too vague to be worth giving a description.

And as to how lone cyclists can make themselves less vulnerable: Sadly it seems avoiding the quieter routes may be necessary in some areas especially when it gets dark.

What a dilemma: risk your safety on the roads; or risk it on the quieter routes.

Don't forget the element of surprise can catch anyone out. The copper said more men had been targeted than women and men were often subject to greater violence.

[Siduhe]

Agree with that Beulah, it's easy to have hindsight and everyone needs to work out their own preference, but as an example - I won't ride on the Surrey Canal Path after dark, even though there are often lot of other cyclists using it.

There are two bridges you go under which are quite hidden, and you quite often get groups of people hanging out there, I'm sure with no bad intention, but I've also seen people get pushed off there so I just won't risk it, even though I hate the traffic on the alternative route.

Appreciate you raising the awareness of this one.

[ed_pete]

I guess I'm kinda sad remembering these old posts but what's even sadder is the nothing has been done in 13+ years.

https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,363511

https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,364704,page=1

[first mate]

I really think it is an issue and will make some people think twice about the wisdom of active travel(walking or cycling). With the cost of living crisis and pressures all round theft will be on the rise.

Avoiding certain routes or not cycling at certain times is a practical solution but does not make cycling feel like the flexible and attractive transport option it is painted to be.

[SpringTime]

alice Wrote:

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> Unless s/he had any extraordinary features further

> description would be meaningless.

"aged in his teens in a hoodie wearing dark clothing"?

Well we know it's a he, so far, but not that much more.

[womanofdulwich]

Maybe a chilli bullet bike camera on the helmet; though I'd prefer to stick to roads with more traffic at night.