A brazen thief has been caught on CCTV ripping an electric bike from a wall in broad daylight as the owner’s back was turned.

The bike, valued at £700, was taken from outside Fast Printing Services in Ramsgate, while owners Mike and Sheila Pett were inside their shop, just yards away.

Mr Pett says it was chained to the wall but the thief managed to tear it off, before attempting to get on.

The crook managed to get away with the bike, which was new and helps Mr Pett get around when he doesn’t want to use his car.

He said: “I was at the back of the shop, which is closed at the moment, and Sheila was at the front so very close to where the bike was. Then someone just came along, ripped it off the wall and took it, in broad daylight - it was about midday.”

Mr Pett says Ramsgate has changed over the years, since he opened his shop in 1979.

“You can’t leave things laying about in the town,” he said.

“Things like this didn’t use to happen so much.

“This was in the daytime, really close to where my wife was stood in the shop.

“Luckily this person was caught on CCTV so we’re hoping that might help get it back.

“I’m also offering a decent reward to anyone who might have information which could help.”

Mr Pett says the bike is electric, with the word Assist on it, and will run out of battery soon.

“The bike was fairly new, we’d put paniers on and all the bits and so it’s worth about £700,” he added.

A police spokesman said they were called on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 19, following a report of a bike being stolen in Chatham Street.

“At around 12.15pm that day, a suspect wearing black boots, black trousers, a black coat, gloves and face covering, reportedly broke a lock and stole a white electric bike, which has the word ‘Assist’ on the side in black writing,” he said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information, is asked to call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/9572/21.

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