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Thieves Switch Boys Bike

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By Mike Blackburn And Ron Livingstone

Three teenage yobs stole a 12-year-old boy's pounds 500 mountain bike - and left him with an old pushbike to ride home on.

Charles Illingworth was confronted by the trio - who had scarves pulled over their faces - as he rode with a friend through Preston Park, Eaglescliffe, at around 5pm on Sunday.

One grabbed the handlebars of his pride and joy, a red Specialized mountain bike, and demanded he get off.

When Charles refused, the mugger raised his fist and threatened to punch him. He grabbed the bike and rode off towards Preston Hall Museum.

The shaken youngster immediately called police and then his mum on his mobile phone, before heading for his Ingleby Barwick home on the old bike.

His mum Angela said she drove immediately to Preston Park but there was no sign of the thieves or her son's bike.

"You just wouldn't think something like this could happen in Preston Park on a Sunday afternoon," she told the Gazette.

"Unfortunately at the time there was nobody around. Charles saw a man walking his dog, but he was just too far away.

"He's a bit shaken up by this. He loved that bike, and picked it out himself just the Christmas before last. We bought him a really nice one because we thought it would last him.

"Now he's just been left with this tatty old bike, which he had to get home on."

Police say the teenagers are believed to be aged around 15 to 16 years old.

The one who stole the bike had his face masked by a blue scarf and was wearing a white baseball cap and tracksuit bottoms tucked into football socks.

* Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Constable Becky O'Connell on 01642 302226 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Source: Evening Gazette - Middlesbrough

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