We’ve reported on scooter crime in the past. As early as May 2016 we brought you the story of David Babbs and his attack by hammer wielding scooter thieves, David is still recovering from his injuries, both mentally and physically. Since then things have gotten out of hand in the Capital and copycats are already using the same business model in other areas of the UK. With little or no deterrent and a softly, softly approach to policing things are only going to get worse.
Yesterday, 31 year old Max Scarazzini was chased through Manchester and robbed of his black Vespa GTS 300 by four lads riding on two scooters, (possibly Yamaha TMAX/XMax, understandably the victim was a little shook up so can’t be sure). The robbers were all wearing casual clothing and dark crash helmets. We’ve spoken to Max this morning to get some details about what happened.
The chase
Max was riding through the Salford area of Manchester at around 2pm yesterday (04/09/2017) when the two dark coloured scooters (both carrying pillions) began to chase him. Max tried to get away by swerving through traffic, continuously beeping his horn and desperately running red lights during the dangerous high-speed pursuit. Once he realised there was no escape he dropped the scooter under a bridge near to a set of new rail tracks in Trinity Way, Salford.
It wasn’t a deserted area, a group of around 10 road workers were stood nearby, in fact five of them were just two metres from where the scooter was dropped. The robbers shouted to them that Max was the scooter thief, a clever distraction technique, and as the robbers picked the GTS up one of them kept coming at Max to keep him away before they made their escape on the three machines.
Luckily for Max he wasn’t injured in the harrowing incident and he ‘only’ lost his scooter but it could have been so much worse. To add insult to injury Max was left at the side of the road for two hours before the police showed up, he’d even tried flagging down passing patrol cars with no success.
Where it happened
The chase started on the A56 (dot A on the image above) and ended where dot B is on Trinity Way. The chase lasted approximately 0.6 miles.
The stolen scooter
Max’s GTS 300, reg number PN15 YSL (pictured top). He bought it in March this year and it had around 2250 miles on the clock. It was fitted with a chrome mudguard protector, front and rear racks, a sports screen and rear crash bars. Have you seen it, or a group of three dark coloured scooters riding together in Manchester since yesterday afternoon? If you’re in the Manchester/Salford area keep your eyes open.
WATCH | This video shows some of the ‘Moped’ crimes being committed
‘Moped’ enabled crime
A media frenzy into so called ‘Moped enabled crime’ brought this mostly London based phenomenon to the attention of the masses. Lawless youngsters stealing high powered scooters (not mopeds in most cases) and using them to commit thousands of crimes. From muggings to robberies, mobile phone thefts, drug deals, stabbings, acid attacks and even murders.
In our increasingly compensation/blame lead culture the police’s hands are tied to a certain extent. The criminals know that they can’t be chased if they take crash helmets off. The red tape, public inquiry and court case that follows if little Jonny gets injured whilst being pursued by police after attacking/robbing an innocent member of the public isn’t worth the loss of career.
Until the law changes to give power back to the police and the police can actively and forcefully apprehend these villains, then this epidemic will only get worse. As we’ve seen, it’s already spreading to other cities. Lives will be lost, and riders will take the law into their own hands if so called ‘moped-enabled crime’ isn’t stopped very soon. Already delivery riders in London have started to fight back, I’m sure many more are going out armed, just in case they are targeted whilst going about their business.
Let us know what you think
Let us know what you think should be done to halt this crime spree. What should the deterrent be and should using a vehicle to deliberately attack another rider carry a tougher sentence, attempted murder for instance? Should carrying an acid spray (or similar chemical) carry the same sentence as a loaded gun? After all, facial disfigurement is a life sentence for the victim.
Words: Iggy
Also, thanks to Max for the photo of his scooter.
VIDEO | Join the protest ride September 9th 2017
If you are in London area and sick of this then join the protest ride this weekend.
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We’ve reported on scooter crime in the past. As early as May 2016 we brought you the story of David Babbs and his attack by hammer wielding scooter thieves, David is still recovering from his injuries, both mentally and physically. Since then things have gotten out of hand in the Capital and copycats are already using the same business model in other areas of the UK. With little or no deterrent and a softly, softly approach to policing things are only going to get worse.
Yesterday, 31 year old Max Scarazzini was chased through Manchester and robbed of his black Vespa GTS 300 by four lads riding on two scooters, (possibly Yamaha TMAX/XMax, understandably the victim was a little shook up so can’t be sure). The robbers were all wearing casual clothing and dark crash helmets. We’ve spoken to Max this morning to get some details about what happened.
The chase
Max was riding through the Salford area of Manchester at around 2pm yesterday (04/09/2017) when the two dark coloured scooters (both carrying pillions) began to chase him. Max tried to get away by swerving through traffic, continuously beeping his horn and desperately running red lights during the dangerous high-speed pursuit. Once he realised there was no escape he dropped the scooter under a bridge near to a set of new rail tracks in Trinity Way, Salford.
It wasn’t a deserted area, a group of around 10 road workers were stood nearby, in fact five of them were just two metres from where the scooter was dropped. The robbers shouted to them that Max was the scooter thief, a clever distraction technique, and as the robbers picked the GTS up one of them kept coming at Max to keep him away before they made their escape on the three machines.
Luckily for Max he wasn’t injured in the harrowing incident and he ‘only’ lost his scooter but it could have been so much worse. To add insult to injury Max was left at the side of the road for two hours before the police showed up, he’d even tried flagging down passing patrol cars with no success.
Where it happened
The chase started on the A56 (dot A on the image above) and ended where dot B is on Trinity Way. The chase lasted approximately 0.6 miles.
The stolen scooter
Max’s GTS 300, reg number PN15 YSL (pictured top). He bought it in March this year and it had around 2250 miles on the clock. It was fitted with a chrome mudguard protector, front and rear racks, a sports screen and rear crash bars. Have you seen it, or a group of three dark coloured scooters riding together in Manchester since yesterday afternoon? If you’re in the Manchester/Salford area keep your eyes open.
WATCH | This video shows some of the 'Moped' crimes being committed
‘Moped’ enabled crime
A media frenzy into so called ‘Moped enabled crime’ brought this mostly London based phenomenon to the attention of the masses. Lawless youngsters stealing high powered scooters (not mopeds in most cases) and using them to commit thousands of crimes. From muggings to robberies, mobile phone thefts, drug deals, stabbings, acid attacks and even murders.
In our increasingly compensation/blame lead culture the police’s hands are tied to a certain extent. The criminals know that they can’t be chased if they take crash helmets off. The red tape, public inquiry and court case that follows if little Jonny gets injured whilst being pursued by police after attacking/robbing an innocent member of the public isn’t worth the loss of career.
Until the law changes to give power back to the police and the police can actively and forcefully apprehend these villains, then this epidemic will only get worse. As we’ve seen, it’s already spreading to other cities. Lives will be lost, and riders will take the law into their own hands if so called ‘moped-enabled crime’ isn’t stopped very soon. Already delivery riders in London have started to fight back, I’m sure many more are going out armed, just in case they are targeted whilst going about their business.
Let us know what you think
Let us know what you think should be done to halt this crime spree. What should the deterrent be and should using a vehicle to deliberately attack another rider carry a tougher sentence, attempted murder for instance? Should carrying an acid spray (or similar chemical) carry the same sentence as a loaded gun? After all, facial disfigurement is a life sentence for the victim.
Words: Iggy
Also, thanks to Max for the photo of his scooter.
VIDEO | Join the protest ride September 9th 2017
Buying from the SLUK Shop keeps our features free and flowing
Crikey I drive very close to that area on my way to work. Wouldnt fancy my chances of escaping on a vega!
Simple answer is to allow the police to give chase. If the thieves injure themselves then tough, if they injure someone else in either the theft or attempted escape then they should be prosecuted for that too.
Maybe a dedicated team of motorcycle police and a few bait bikes would sort it.
Bring back corporal punishment by putting them in stocks in town centres and then make them watch the public destruction of their all of their personal possessions; trainers, phones, X Boxes etc.
Then charge the public a pound a go to dump rotten fruit and veg donated by supermarkets on them (giving them safety goggles to wear of course) and any money raised can go to compensate the victims. I’d buy that for a dollar!
Then their pathetic mouldy cabbaged faces can go viral with a global Nelson Muntz “Ha Ha!” to name and shame them.
I can only dream of a society that has balls and a sense of justice! Bah!
There is a big protest happening here in London this Saturday Sept 9th 2017 from 10.30am meeting at outer circle Regents Park. Check out ‘bikers united’ on Facebook for more details.
Let’s hope the police find them before scooterist a do
My first thought was – we should be allowed to taser them.
Second thought was – Could SLUK partner up with someone like Datatag, or similar?
If the price could be brought down, and enough people have fully registered scooters (people could buy/sell parts using a database, to prove unstolen), fitted with transponders /trackers.
Followed up with stickers (removable if needed) / marked up Hi-vis ect ect . Hopefully, then the thieving pratt’s will take our Scooters off the shopping list.
The solution if there is one, has got to be tough.
The police won’t give chase, so the little turds don’t care.
Even if they do get caught, like one of those who attempted to scooter-jack my partners gts300 when she pulled up at a set of lights, went to court and the 15 year old has to pay her £50 over something like a year.
It’s a joke. Six little bastards on 3 twist n go’s pushed her off her scoot and imo tried to kill her. She hung on to the bike and one of the attackers until a couple of people helped her.
If I knew where they were I’d burn the little bastards. She won’t tell me the one kids name that was caught, for fear of what I would do to him. Can of petrol, box of matches…
At the Ace cafe, there was a sign about setting up a little sting operation to catch a thief. It won’t stop the scooter-jacking but it would break a few heads. I think it’s a drop in the ocean, but if the kids thought they might get a beating, they might think twice.
The police will do nothing and the courts do even less. Pain is the only thing these little S**ts will understand.
Sorry about the aggressive tone but they hurt her badly, not just the physical injuries but the trauma it caused her.
What would you do to protect the one you love, or get revenge on the ones who hurt her?
I know what i’m prepared to do.
Point blank. If you live in London, don’t ride a GTS 300 or a Tmax. Unless you want the aggro to go with it.
Colin MacKenzie – right on the money.
Well said Colin, these plastic gangsters think everything is there for the taking and don’t mind who they upset or traumatise.
The courts in this country are a joke, the people who make the laws are either so far removed from everyday society they don’t know whats going on in our streets or they just don’t care.. The law has to get tough to deal with scum like this and a softly softly approach is just an encouragement to the vermin.
Despite a gov.org online petition to bring back hanging getting over 100,000 signitures the government think they know best and chose to ignore it.
Protest being held in Bristol on 30th Sept.
https://www.facebook.com/events/305547526586948??ti=ia