A brave Bromley resident scared off a group of would-be motorbike thieves while barefoot in a dramatic midnight confrontation that was captured on CCTV.
The Midnight Confrontation
The incident occurred just after 1am on North Road in Bromley, when the 43-year-old watch repair worker heard suspicious activity outside his home. The Brazilian native, who has lived in Bromley for over a year, sprang into action without even stopping to put on shoes.
CCTV footage shows the motorbike enthusiast chasing the fleeing thieves barefoot as they scrambled to escape. The homeowner believes the group consisted of young lads aged between 15-20 years old whom he described as "cowards" during his statement to reporters.
A Decade-Long Struggle With Motorcycle Crime
This isn't the first time the man has been targeted by thieves. He previously lived in Forest Hill but moved to Bromley after having his motorbike stolen five times in succession. His motorcycle ownership history includes luxury bikes such as a Honda Fireblade that cost him approximately £15,000, which was eventually stolen and damaged beyond repair.
The persistent thefts have forced him to change his approach to motorcycle ownership. He now only purchases cheaper bikes costing around £500, but even this hasn't deterred criminals from targeting his property.
"I have been having problems with motorbike thieves for probably about ten years," he revealed. "I have always had nice motorbikes, Harley Davidsons, you name it. But since 2017 I decided not to bother with it anymore because I keep getting robbed."
Impact on Mental Health and Future Plans
The repeated incidents have taken a significant toll on the man's mental wellbeing. He admitted to living in constant fear and suffering from sleep deprivation due to anxiety about further theft attempts.
"It is a very small house so any noise in front of it alerts me. I am paranoid now," he confessed. "I actually had to move houses because of bike thieves. My hearing is very sharp at night. I don't sleep anymore."
The situation has become so severe that he's considering leaving the country altogether. "I am about to leave this country because of crime," he stated, highlighting the profound impact that persistent motorcycle theft has had on his quality of life.
The Metropolitan Police attended the scene quickly after being called at around 4:50am on Saturday, September, but were unable to apprehend the suspects. Officers noted that the individuals were wearing balaclavas and motorcycle helmets, making identification difficult.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed: "At this time there are no further lines of enquiry to pursue, so this case was closed pending more evidence coming to light in future."
