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A dad has spoken of his frustration after spotting teens he believes are riding around on his son's stolen bike – a week after signposting police to CCTV of the culprit.
The incident is reported to have taken place outside Trokes News in Singlewell Road, Gravesend, shortly after 9pm on Monday last week.
Sandeep Panikkar's son Tarang, 11, went inside to buy a drink and left his blue Apollo Radar bike outside the shop on the shopkeeper's advice.
But just a few moments later the cycle was gone, leaving the boy in floods of tears.
Tarang ran a short journey back to his home in Wrotham Road where he told his father what had happened.
Sandeep said: "He went to buy some juice and cake and then I saw him coming back crying saying 'my cycle has gone'.
"Immediately I went to the police. I called them at 9.20."
The dad then drove his son back to the shop in an attempt to retrieve CCTV images of the culprit.
The shop owner passed over the footage, which shows a young man peer into the shop momentarily before leaving with the bike.
Sandeep described the suspect as a young white man in his late teens, wearing informal but quality jogging trousers and a hoody.
He alerted the authorities to the CCTV images which he says clearly identifies the man who took his son's bike.
But he claims police seemed disinterested and were slow to respond to the incident.
"It is a dereliction of duty," he said. "You get a burglar caught on camera and the police are not picking it up."
Officers have since visited the scene to speak with possible witnesses and are seeking to obtain CCTV.
At present, the bike has not been found and no arrests have been made.
However, in a further twist the dad says he was out driving with his son on Sunday when he witnessed who he believes to be the teen from the CCTV image, and two others, pushing the same bike.
It happened in Singlewell Road – near the newsagent's where the cycle was pinched – around 4.30pm, Sandeep claimed.
"I was in the car when I saw them," he said. "He was pushing the cycle at that time, he had a girl on the handle bar."
"Because the traffic lights had gone, I had to drive away."
"I just don't want the guy to roam away scot-free"
But when Sandeep returned to confront the teens he said the suspect cycled away up Old West Road. The dad tried to pursue him on foot but was unable to.
He then turned his attention to a young black male who had been with the suspect at the time but was now heading in the direction of the train station.
When he attempted to inquire about his son's missing cycle he said the teen got confrontational, adding "he was brushing it off" and saying "go away, go away".
Sandeep says his son is still upset but insists it is "not about the money, it is not about the trauma".
"I just don't want the guy to roam away scot-free," he added.
Officers would like to hear from anyone who has information, including anyone who has been offered a blue, Apollo Radar bike for sale in suspicious circumstances.
Information can be reported by calling police on 01474 366149 quoting 46/137119/20, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or using the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org
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