Regularly catching (*not catching) local bike thief gang

[jimster]

This is a random one - there is a local gang of yoof who have taken to stealing expensive motorbikes and then ripping out the trackers inside a short tunnel near where I live in London before then zooming off. I walked past them as they entered the tunnel once - I immediately realised they were up to no good but didn't fancy a confrontation with 5 extremely dodgy looking agitated geezers plus had left my mobile at home so couldn't call the police (plus what would I have said? Dodgy looking guys pushing a nice bike around? Hardly enough for 999 these days).

My suspicion was sadly confirmed an hour later when a police car turned up tracking the tracker (now sadly lying on the ground, in the tunnel, absent its bike).

I've since heard several more bikes going there over the last few weeks. The police don't seem to care that much / have no capacity.

What would you do in this situation? Any advice? I'd like to help stop them, but don't really want to get my face rearranged by angry bike thief fists and the police usually refuse to respond to 999 calls anyway. Hmm. It's tricky!
____________________
Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[Easy-X]

You could form a militia, that's a popular option these days
____________________
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Ste]

When one of them dies, make sure to set fire to the shitty little shrine their fellow scum will set up.

A bit like what happened in Bristol but in Bristol the shrine spontaneously combusted.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=318347

[FF68]

[A100man]

Bang on and on to the law like a stuck record, inform teh local news media they are not taking this seriously.. its the squeaky door that get the oil.

Direct action only if you're 'ckin hard and have a load of equally hard mates, although the liklihood is the scummers aren't as brave as they like to think.
____________________
Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[MarJay]

[jimster]

[Robby]

Once again, I agree with Marje.

Keep reporting it. The police don't have enough people to provide the service we expect of them. However, they also don't want the bad press associated with being told about this crime multiple times, and doing nothing.

One report of possible dodgy activity can be brushed under the table. Multiple reports, including evidence left at the scene, cannot.

For bonus points, once criminal activity has happened in a place, that place tends to get added on to regular patrol routes and is more likely to get a response when someone calls.

You can't fix the system, but you can learn how to play the game to your advantage.

[FF68]