Moped thieves stop traffic and use angle grinder in attempt to steal HD TV camera

The cameras are believed to belong to the BBC

Moped thieves stop traffic and use angle grinder in attempt to steal HD TV camera

BRAZEN thieves on mopeds stopped traffic while attempting to steal a HD TV camera using an angle grinder last Thursday.

During rush hour the 5-strong group brought traffic on Putney Bridge, West London, to a halt and attempted to remove the camera from its mount, where it had been set up to film Friday’s famous Oxford vs Cambridge boat race.

However, after just a minute of trying, they abandoned their attempt and fled the scene. Less than an hour later a video camera was stolen from a scaffolding platform nearby.

A spokesperson for the MET Police told Visordown: “Police were called at around 17.06hrs on Thursday, 22 March to reports of a group of males on a number mopeds attempting to remove a camera using an angle grinder on Putney Bridge.

“The suspects left the scene before police arrived. The camera was not stolen.

“At 17.52hrs, police were called to Lonsdale Road, Barnes SW13 after a video camera was stolen from a scaffolding platform by suspects on mopeds who made off towards Hammersmith Bridge.

“At this stage, the two incidents are being treated as linked. No arrests; enquiries continue.

“If you have any information about either incident, please call police on 101 quoting CAD 5788/22MAR (Putney Bridge) or 6239/22MAR (Lonsdale Road), or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”