A brave Edinburgh man intervened to stop a masked gang from stealing a motorbike in the city centre on Wednesday night.
In a video shared with Edinburgh Live, four brazen would-be thieves dressed in black with hoods up and balaclavas can be seen breaking a motorbike chain lock on St Andrew Square.
The gang is huddled around the bike as one of the men attempts to take the bike. Two of his accomplices are standing with other bikes while another one is parked on the pavement.
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As the chain breaks off, the have-a-go hero dressed in a red top comes striding over. The group look startled, leaving the bike and chain on the ground and scarper. Three of the men with their hoods up get away on their bikes with the fourth one jumping on the back of another.
The three bikes being used all have learner plates pinned to the back of them.
St Andrew Square, surrounded by restaurants and bars, would have been busy with diners at the time and one customer took it upon himself to intervene and chase the masked gang away.
It comes as a number of residents have reported their motorbikes and bicycles being stolen in recent months.
Speaking earlier to Edinburgh Live, Kenny Abbott from East Lothian, shared how he was told there was 'big money' in bike thefts after his e-bike was taken off the back of his car in broad daylight outside Tesco.
Police Scotland report on their website that 'motorcycles and scooters are an easy target for thieves' - and suggest a range of actions to help prevent thefts such as fitting an alarm, lock and covering the bike.
Fitting a tracker can also assist police in locating the bike if it is stolen.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report of the attempted theft of a motorbike around 8pm and around 11pm on Wednesday, 22 February, in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Do you know the have-a-go-hero? Get in touch with katie.williams@reachplc.com.
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