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Plain-Clothes Cops on Scrambler Bikes Spectacularly Intercept Moped Thieves

As the Met Police in London more or less publicly admits defeat in the wave of moped crime sweeping the city, 2 plain-clothes police officers from Manchester are being hailed as heroes for the way they intercepted 3 such criminals.
Plain-clothes police officers on scrambler bikes make spectacular arrest of moped thieves 13 photos
Photo: YouTube / NewsFlare
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If it can happen in Manchester, maybe there’s hope for London, too, voices online are saying.

Video from the dashcam of a nearby car has been released online, and it brings some hope to residents of UK cities most affected by moped crime: maybe the day will come when cops everywhere will be this quick-thinking and quick-acting as these 2 officers.

The incident happened at the Greengate Roundabout in Manchester, and you can see video of it at the bottom of the page. The Daily Mail notes that there is a chance the 3 men being chased by police weren’t thieves, but popular opinion online differs.

The video shows the 3 men riding 2 mopeds, stopping at a red light. As the light turns red and they prepare to leave, a plain-clothes officer on an off-road bike blocks their access and kicks one of the guys. He falls to the ground, but is quick to get up and run away.

A second plain-clothes officer rides from behind and grabs the 2 remaining criminals, while a third cop, this time in uniform, arrives on the scene. He is seen motioning to the thief who had escaped, and giving chase when he starts running on foot.

The incident ended with the 3 moped thieves in custody. Sadly, it’s not the norm in terms of moped gang attacks: London is the city most plagued by moped crime, though the number of incidents has dropped this year, as compared to the previous one.

Even so, over 400 incidents are still reported weekly, and arrests are close to zero. One reason is that Met police officers don’t have the means to chase down moped thieves because their bikes are wider and heavier, and don’t fit through the narrow spaces a moped goes through easily.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
Elena Gorgan profile photo

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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