Gang snatches paper boy's new bike

12:33pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

A PAPER boy saw his prized new bicycle snatched by a gang of four teenagers while delivering newspapers in Didcot.

Sam Smith, of Church Street, Didcot was delivering The Herald's sister newspaper, the Oxford Mail, in Kynaston Road, on Saturday when the gang pulled up in a blue car.

One of them, who was hooded, got out and snatched the 15-year-old's silver mountain bike, which he had left for a moment leaning against a wall, and pedalled off on it.

The St Birinus School pupil had been given the bike as a present by a pensioner on his paper round about a month ago.

He said: "I was waiting for someone to answer the door and some people in a car came past quite casually.

"They must have gone round the block because they came back and one of them just ran up to my bike and took it.

"I couldn't really believe it. They were about 18 or 20 years old and I didn't really want to do anything. I just started walking home and then I ran the rest of the way and I was crying.

"I wasn't scared, I just thought, my bike has gone!"

Despite having his bike snatched, Sam still finished his paper round on foot with the help of his mother, Sheila Smith, 46. She said: "He was just so upset, I had to calm him down. He ran all the way back from Kynaston. He cares about his paper round so much and the people on his paper round.

"It's just shattered his confidence. Now he feels like he's going to always be looking over his shoulder."

Sam said: "I think the worst thing was it was just such a simple theft and it happened so quickly." But Sam, who has delivered the Oxford Mail six days a week for almost two years, said the incident had not put him off and he was back on the round using an old bike.

He said: "It's made me a bit more cautious, but there is no point in quitting. There are some really nice people on my round and they talk to me. But I really would appreciate my bike back. My bike is like the equivalent of my car, but I can't lock it up everytime I go on the round."

Thames Valley Police spokesman Claire Gourlay is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

She said: "He was delivering some papers at 11.10am in Kynaston Road on Saturday when a blue Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Astra with four men in it in their late teens pulled up.

"One got out of the car and stole the boy's silver mountain bike. The man who stole it was about 5ft 5in tall and stocky and he was wearing a black and grey striped hooded top.

"The driver of the car was described as tubby and had a black baseball cap."

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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