Pair charged in Bristol motorcycle theft investigation

TWO BOYS have been charged and a third arrested in relation to a recent spate of motorcycle thefts in Bristol, which culminated in the torching of a classic Triumph.

The arrests have been made under Operation Buell, which reached a critical point on Tuesday when a group, going by the name of ‘biketakerrr’ on Instagram, shared a video of the stolen classic being set on fire.

The three arrests made since Wednesday concern two 14-year-olds and one 17-year-old.

Concurrently, the operation has seen five stolen motorcycles recovered and reunited with their owners.

Police officers arrested one of the 14-year-olds on Friday after spotting a stolen motorbike on Falcondale Road, Westbury-on-Trym. He has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, riding a motorbike on a road without protective headgear, handling stolen goods, breach of a criminal behaviour order, driving a motor vehicle other than in accordance with a licence and using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance. He has been released on unconditional bail pending an appearance at Bristol Youth Court on March 5.

The second 14-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and released under investigation while the police continue their enquiries.

The 17-year-old was arrested by officers in the Avonmouth area at 4.15am on Wednesday.

He has since been charged with handling stolen goods, breach of a criminal behaviour order, driving a motor vehicle other than in accordance with a licence, using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance. He has been released on conditional bail pending an appearance at Bristol Youth Court on March 12.

Inspector Rob Cheeseman, leading the operation, commented: ‘These arrests and subsequent charges follow months of both overt and covert police work.

‘We know the motorbike community of Bristol have been hit by recent thefts and I hope these results send a strong message that we will relentlessly target anyone involved in such criminality.’

The Instagram account, used by the thieves to boast about their conquests, had been deactivated this morning.

It's not just in Bristol that police are cracking down on motorbike crime. In Brighton, a 16-year-old boy has been arrested under suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, (being) carried in a vehicle without the owner’s consent, making off without paying and riding a motorcycle on a road without protective head gear. He has been released under investigation.