In a bold and audacious theft, two criminals made off with a Vespa scooter and two mountain bikes from a residential driveway in Preston, Lancashire. The entire incident was captured on security camera footage, which shows the perpetrators not only stealing the vehicles but also brazenly staring directly at the camera as they executed their crime.
Early Morning Raid Under Security Lights
Simon Carey, a 48-year-old photobooth business owner, awoke on the morning of Sunday, March 8, to a distressing scene. He discovered the cover for his beloved Vespa laid out on the floor of his driveway, immediately sensing that he had been robbed. Mr. Carey had recently moved into his new home and had taken precautions to protect his vehicles, including installing a motion sensor light and a CCTV camera. Despite these security measures, the thieves were undeterred.
At approximately 4 a.m., the motion sensor lights illuminated the driveway as the two men approached. Dressed in hoodies and face masks, they entered Mr. Carey's garden without hesitation. The CCTV footage clearly shows them first riding the two mountain bikes out of the driveway one after another. They then returned to the property and were seen carrying the Vespa out, with one of the thieves pausing to stare directly at the security camera during the act.
Damage and Discovery
Mr. Carey reported that the thieves hotwired the Vespa and drove away with it. Upon investigating further, he noticed that the mountain bikes were missing and found a bottle of strawberry milkshake spilled over the Vespa cover. Later that day, he was alerted to a Facebook post indicating that the stolen vehicles had been located near a pond, approximately 500 yards from his home in Preston.
By the time Mr. Carey arrived at the scene, the police had already taken the vehicles into custody. The mountain bikes had been dumped in a bush, but the Vespa had suffered significant damage. Mr. Carey described the front end as "completely damaged" following what appeared to be some kind of collision. He fears the scooter is now a write-off, with an estimated value of around £850.
Insurance Woes and Emotional Impact
Compounding the situation, Mr. Carey received an email from his insurance company revealing that one of the thieves had attempted to make a claim on his insurance policy. He expressed concern that the value of the Vespa means he is unlikely to receive an insurance payout, leaving him unable to replace it. "It was my little pack of happiness," he lamented. "I used to love riding around on that in the summer, but it is gone now."
The incident has left Mr. Carey feeling paranoid about the security of his home and business assets. "I have a photobooth business, so there is quite a lot of expensive stuff," he said. "I need to get a good-sized gate. The house was lit up all night, and the cameras light up as well when they are triggered. So it was very blatant from them; they came in without a care in the world."
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police confirmed that they were called at 7:39 a.m. on March 8 to a report of a Vespa and two mountain bikes found in woodland off Bluebell Way in Bamber Bridge. The owner has been traced, and it has been confirmed that the vehicles were stolen from his home. As of now, the police are still hunting the thieves involved in this brazen theft.
This case highlights the challenges homeowners face in protecting their property, even with security measures in place, and underscores the emotional and financial toll such crimes can inflict on victims.
