In a thrilling display of bravery, esteemed architect Ben Derbyshire found himself face-to-face with a gang of moped thieves determined to snatch his prized $3.100 Brompton bike while he enjoyed a leisurely lunch.
As the commotion spilled onto the street, Ben Derbyshire sprang into action, alerted by the chaos unfolding outside the cafe’s glass windows.
The audacious gang, donned in blacked-out helmets, brandished power tools, attempting to free the bike from its lock using angle-grinders.
Mr. Derbyshire isn’t the only one to have stopped a vehicle heist – recently another man managed to stop a group of thieves from lifting his car from the driveway.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Mr. Derbyshire swiftly grabbed his phone in one hand while gripping his cherished Brompton bike firmly in the other.
Undeterred by the menacing presence of the thieves, he courageously confronted them, determined to protect his prized possession.
Joined by his son and the owner of El Ganso Cafe, Mr. Derbyshire received assistance in his valiant stand against the thieves.
Faced with the architect’s resolute defense and the looming threat of capture, the thwarted criminals ultimately fled the scene empty-handed. The entire ordeal, captured on video, showcases the architect’s bravery and the power of a community coming together to combat crime.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ben Derbyshire, who also serves as the chairperson of architecture firm HTA Design LLP, took to Twitter to share the video of his encounter with the angle-grinder-wielding rustlers.
Reflecting on the experience, he revealed a sense of vulnerability and danger he had felt during the confrontation. Trapped momentarily amidst a sea of bicycles and bystanders, he found himself in a precarious situation, unable to escape if needed. However, the complexity of their target seemed to overwhelm the would-be thieves, leading to their eventual retreat as per daily mail.
Ben Derbyshire’s encounter highlights a disturbing trend in the criminal landscape of London, where moped-riding criminals have seen a significant surge in their activities over the past decade.
In 2021 alone, there were a staggering 3,803 moped crimes reported, compared to a mere 365 in 2011. However, it is worth noting that these figures represent a decrease from the peak in 2017, which recorded a staggering 23,909 incidents of moped-related crime, as reported by The Telegraph.
