Swindon motorbike theft victims band together to try to get bikes back

Frustrated by a lack or progress or news of arrests. they have formed their own information network, posting potential sightings, possible suspects and other advice to try to recover their missing bikes. 

Jack Grove's bike and the pair of thieves who broke into his garage caught on CCTV

Jack Groves, 32, whose bike was stolen from the garage of his Purton home in March, started the group after several others fell victim to similar burglaries. 

Read: Moment burglars enter Jack's home and steal motorbike as family slept

The value of the bikes stolen totals well over an estimated £25,000 but currently, no arrests have been made and several cases have now been dropped.

Paul Weaver, 43, who joined the group after having two sentimental motocross bikes stolen from his back garden in Walcot in April, is one of the people who has been told police are no longer investigating

Paul Weaver's two stolen bikes and the damage to his back garden

"It's just disappointing that there seems to be no deterrent or consequences to these people committing these crimes. I could moan about the police all day and their apparent lack of interest but it isn't worth it."

Read: Paul and family of emergency service workers struggle after double bike theft

He has since made an official complaint to the force. 

 Ash Brown found out the investigation into his stolen bike had ended after The Adver approached Wiltshire Police for an update on his case. 

"They haven't even bothered to ring me, leave a voicemail or email," he said. 

Ash Brown's Honda - stolen after his workshop was broken into

The group have received tipoffs about possible locations of where their bikes are as well as possible suspects who may have been responsible. 

They've also had images and videos of what are thought to be their bikes being ridden around Swindon as well as pictures and videos from the social media accounts of suspected bike thieves openly posting about what they're doing.

But they say despite this being shared with the police it has come to nothing.

Jack said: "Every person I give info to just says there's no evidence so they can’t do anything, which sucks. They say without evidence they won't do anything however, every name I give, they just say yes he’s dangerous don’t go near him."

All of them say they've now given up hope of ever seeing their bikes again. 

Wiltshire police confirmed that both Paul's and Ash's cases had been closed, but enquiries into Jack's are continuing.