A WOMAN ended up investigating the theft of her moped herself because police said they couldn’t help her.

Vicky Egerton, 21, parked her moped in the Designer Outlet shopping centre customer car park off Kemble Drive before heading into work on Sunday morning.

When she came out at 3.30pm the moped was gone.

“I don’t know when it was stolen but I have heard that at around 1pm a bunch of youngsters were seen riding mopeds around the park by St Mary’s Church nearby,” said Vicky.

“The police were called but from what I understand, nobody went out.

“We’ve been told by the police that there are about 10 outstanding bike thefts in Swindon now - the officer we were speaking to called it an epidemic.”

While having her moped stolen was frustrating, it was the response from the police that Vicky found most troubling.

“I rang the police and was told that unless I had witnesses and CCTV, some sort of proof, then it would be left as an open case and not really looked at," she said.

“I was the one who was sent to the Outlet security office to request that they start looking through the CCTV.

“I’ve had to do all the leg work which doesn’t seem right. My parents and I have been on Facebook, we’ve been driving around talking to people, we’ve had to go to the police and tell them where the bike has been spotted and what we’ve found out.”

Vicky and her parents even spotted the moped being driven on the afternoon that it was stolen, one of the two riders onboard was wearing Vicky’s helmet which had been stored in the seat compartment.

The number plate had been altered using tape to make a 'U' appear like an 'O'.

When Vicky tried to run towards the bike, the two youngsters riding it sped off.

Knowing they had been rumbled, Vicky feared the thieves would destroy the bike before the police made attempts to recover it and the next morning, her worst fears were realised.

It was found dumped by someone who had seen the appeals on social media - unfortunately it was so damaged that it will have to be written off.

“The damage was extensive,” said Vicky. “They even left their bolt cutters and the tape that was used to alter my registration plate under the seat.

“But the police have said that bolt cutters aren’t ideal to get fingerprints off so they won’t be coming out. They say it is a low risk crime and even if fingerprints were found there’s no proof of the offence.”

Vicky understands the case has now been closed following the recovery of the bike.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “We will always try to respond appropriately to the crime committed - taking in to account the nature of the incident and the resources available at that time.

"In cases like this, if an officer is not immediately available we will ask the victim to check locally for CCTV evidence and witnesses, like neighbours, family, friends and, in this case, work colleagues - immediate action like this might lead to vital evidence which would help our officers find the offender(s) quickly.

“We appreciate that any theft is upsetting for the person who has had their property stolen - in this case an officer has been assigned and will be in touch with the victim.”

UPDATE (June 30): Wiltshire Police has arrested and charged a 16-year-old boy from Swindon with two counts of theft, one of arson and one of dangerous driving. He has been released on bail and is due to appear at court in the near future.

Three of the charges relate to the theft of the moped from the Designer Outlet car park off Kemble Drive on Sunday, June 25 outlined in the above story.

The second theft charge relates to a separate incident of moped theft.