CCTV captures shocking moment thieves steal Yamaha moped in Dover Road, Northfleet
05:00, 15 November 2023
updated: 13:26, 15 November 2023
An “unlucky” moped owner has been left unable to get to work after brazen thieves pinched his bike outside his front door.
Leah Lambert caught four youngsters stealing his Yamaha scooter on CCTV cameras installed outside of his home.
The yobs targeted the 23-year-old’s vehicles in Dover Road, Northfleet at around 12.30am last Thursday, (November 9).
Leah told KentOnline: “I was up on my phone and decided to take a peek at my security cameras, and that’s when I saw four lads cutting my moped’s lock.
“They cut the lock, then ran off down the nearby alleyway before coming back to my bike and running off with it.”
Leah, who works at The Baggage Factory at Dockside Shopping Centre in Medway, called 999 straight away in hopes that his moped, which is worth around £3,000, could be recovered and returned to him.
Police confirmed that the vehicle was found nearby and four teenage boys were all arrested at around 1am.
The suspects, aged 15, 17, and two boys aged 16, have since been bailed until Thursday, February 8, while further enquiries are made.
Leah added: “I was later told that the thieves put my moped in their garden.
“Apparently the next day they admitted everything, however, my bike is in police storage waiting to be released.”
Despite the alleged perpetrators being caught Leah has still now been able to get his bike back and suspects it may be damaged beyond repair.
He said: “The theft has impacted me severely because that moped was my way of getting to work.
“Police said the people who took my bike will pay for the damages but I think it is going to be written off.
“I’m going to have to pay £725 excess if it is written off – money I don’t have.”
Leah described his moped as being “unlucky”.
Last month someone else also attempted to steal it and it was shunted from the rear by another driver.
Leah, who has only been living in Dover Road for a month, explained that he has high-functioning autism, depression, and anxiety – all things that have been triggered negatively by the moped theft.
He said: “The theft has affected my ability to work as I can’t get there now, I can’t afford public transport every day.
“It’s also caused me to lose earnings, about £91 a day, because I can’t travel to do my job.
“I assume those who took it just wanted to burn the bike out around the green but it has made my week miserable.
“Hopefully these kids will learn their lesson.”
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