- Cyclists pursued a thief who stole a $15,000 road racing bike.
- The thief was caught within three blocks and arrested by Police.
- The owner raced in the finals the next day with minor bike damage.
A group of elite cyclists attending a national cycling event in Invercargill found themselves in an unexpected race after witnessing a theft during their weekend.
While enjoying a meal on Saturday, the group saw a man take one of their road bikes, worth $15,000, and ride off. Sergeant Geoff Sutherland said, “Two of the cyclists mounted their trusty bikes and went into pursuit of the man.”
The alleged thief quickly realised he was no match for the cyclists, who caught up with him within three blocks. The cyclists managed to box him in, ending the chase. “For him, the race was over,” added Sergeant Sutherland.
A Police patrol unit arrived on the scene within a minute and arrested the out-of-breath offender without any trouble.
The stolen bike suffered only minor damage and was returned to its owner, who was able to race in the finals the following day with good results.
A 31-year-old local man has been charged with theft and is due to appear in the Invercargill District Court today.