A cyclist in Regent's Park was robbed of their £4,200 bike by thieves wielding hammers.

33-year-old Patrick Conneely had a frightening encounter while out for a bike ride through Regent's Park. As he made his way around the Outer Circle, he noticed two men on a moped following him. Little did he know, they had their sights set on his £4,200 road bike.

Unfortunately, this type of bike theft has become all too common in the famous northwest London park. The park is a popular spot for cyclists to gather and ride before the roads open up to vehicle traffic at 7am. These thieves, known as 'bike-jackers', target unsuspecting riders and use violence to steal their valuable bicycles.

Patrick, a data analyst, recalls the moment he realized he was being followed. "I knew straight away what was happening and felt very vulnerable," he said. He attempted to turn around and get away, but the moped quickly followed. The last thing he wanted was to be knocked off his bike, so he made the decision to stop and face the robbers.

As one of the men leapt off the moped and approached him brandishing a hammer, Patrick feared for his safety. "Give me the f***ing bike," the man demanded. It was a terrifying ordeal, and Patrick couldn't help but wonder if the robbers had been watching him and his bike before making their move.

Like many other cyclists who have been victims of or heard about similar attacks, Patrick is now afraid to return to the park. Instead, cyclists are opting to meet in large groups outside of the park to ride together. They are also calling for increased police presence, especially in the early hours of the morning when most cyclists are out.

Patrick believes that a sting operation, similar to the one done on watch robbers in the West End, would be an effective next step in catching these criminals. Chief Inspector John Hine from the Royal Parks unit has stated that bicycle robberies are a top priority for the team, given the violence used in these attacks. He also assures that they are doing everything they can to stop these crimes.

In response to these incidents, the Met has encouraged cyclists to register their bikes with them and obtain a free tracker device. They also stress the importance of making it difficult for thieves to sell stolen bikes through the second-hand market. By registering bikes, they can track and recover them if they are stolen.

In the midst of this unsettling news, it's important to stay informed about what's happening in the capital. To stay updated, visit Metro's London news hub for the latest updates.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]