A witness captured video of a man stealing a bicycle using an angle grinder.
Washington — Bike thefts may not be new, but the length of time it took a man to steal one in Northwest D.C. took many people by surprise.
The owner of a Super 73 electric bike locked it at the corner of 14th Street and Quincy Street before heading to the bar before 7 p.m. Sunday. Unbeknownst to him, two men later robbed it by cutting the lock with what appears to be an angle grinder, according to a witness’ video.
In the short video clip, sparks could be seen flying in the street. Other photographs captured by nearby diners showed people on the bicycle before heading off in an unknown direction.
“I was a little surprised and confused because it was broad daylight and there were a lot of people around,” the owner told WUSA9. “It seemed like it was pretty organized. “It’s definitely not the first time.”
It was also not the first time that the owner’s bicycle had been stolen.
“It’s discouraging because I love riding my bike,” the owner added. “I’m not sure if I’ll even replace it.”
Joel Blackwell, who worked at a bar just around the corner, said he’s not surprised what happened because of previous robberies in the area.
The latest figures from DC police show that the number of robberies that do not involve a vehicle is 4,969 so far this year. There were 5,022 during the same period last year.
This type of crime is the most reported in the District. In 2022 there were 10,814 complaints. It jumped in 2023 to 13,349.
“Come on, man, we gotta be better than that,” Blackwell said. “Power tools are meant for construction, not cutting bike locks.”
For cycling prevention tips, click this link.
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