Edinburgh thieves who stole a motorbike from a quiet residential street have reportedly filmed themselves riding around town on it alongside a collection of similar bikes.
After a local resident in the Merchiston area noticed his bike, which he had carried out work on and forked out a fair bit of cash for, was stolen and seemingly cut from its secure chain, he was shocked to discover what appears to be the exact same make and model being driven by a group of balaclava-wearing youths on social media.
The clip shows several youths, all on motorbikes, riding around local streets and filming themselves pulling dangerous stunts.
READ MORE: Edinburgh resident criticises council for bungled double yellow lines in quiet area
Speaking on finding out his bike was stolen and the shock of seeing the apparent thieves 'boasting online' with their ill-gotten gains, the local resident said: "I had it chained to a post but they just chopped through it like butter.
"I used the bike to save on fuel because we're in the midst of a cost of living crisis and it is much cheaper and easier to park around town compared to a car. I had spent around £750 as it was second-hand but I did a lot of work to repair the clutch and the clutch lever.
"I recognised the make and model from the TikTok video which shows people driving around on it and there are also several distinguishing features about it which I don't believe would be on a new model.
"I don't think it's a coincidence either that a few days after I notice mine has been stolen it appears in multiple videos online. I feel like the bike will just end up dumped somewhere and burnt which appears to be the outcome for most that are stolen.
"I wonder if the city needs a dedicated motorbike force that are also on bikes because you can't catch them on a car. These kids ride bikes every day and they're obviously good at it. You see videos of them popping wheelies which you need a lot of skill to do.
"To them, motorbikes is their sport. We also need regulations to be cleaned up so that you can chase people as I think police are currently worried about ramifications and causing an accident."
A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed the report of a stolen bike and that enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
As well as dealing with the inflated insurance price due to the theft, the victim has also been issued a bus lane fine in the post which he believes was the result of the youths in question and is now trying to find evidence to convince the council it was not him.
He continued: "I think it's the result of having a lot of kids with a lot of time on their hands with no repercussions, there is no blowback for them and it is very hard to get evidence as they wear masks all the time.
"If I can't recover the bike I will pay vastly more money next year in that I will probably lose the value of the bike in insurance payments in a year or so.
"There's also the amount of paperwork which has consumed my life for the last week. I've been distracted from work and always on the phone to the police. It's not fun to be on the one of the other end.
"I wasn't sure exactly when the bike was taken as I often just walk past it chained up and one day I noticed it wasn't there, but I got a penalty through the door for the bike being in a bus lane at 4am which helped me track down the day it was nicked.
"So now I have to show the council that it wasn't me and that's more paperwork. Motorbikes should be a really good option for getting people out of cars, they're far more economical than cars so these kids are putting people off what should be a more sustainable mode of transport.
"If you are never confident that your vehicle will be where you left it in the morning then it will really put people off that form of transport."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 4.40 pm on Friday,12 May 2023, police were called to a report of a motorbike being stolen from outside an address in Edinburgh. Enquiries into the incident are continuing."
READ NEXT:
Edinburgh Beyonce fans 'camp' outside Murrayfield Stadium hours before gig
Edinburgh man charged after 24-year-old suffers severe facial injuries from dog attack
Young Edinburgh mum 'left crumpled in pool of blood' before dying after 'disturbance'
Ex-Hibs striker Steve Archibald to take on billionaire Spanish energy firm in court
Beyoncé lands in Edinburgh ahead of huge Murrayfield gig for Renaissance world tour
