Boy, 14, among suspects in e-bike theft crackdown

Police are increasing patrols after a series of thefts and anti-social behaviour in Merseyside involving e-bikes and scrambler bikes.

Nine people, including five teenagers, have been arrested in the past week, Merseyside Police has said.

A number of suspected stolen e-bikes and scrambler bikes have also been seized in the crackdown.

The force said a 14-year-old boy was held over two robberies of e-bikes on the Liverpool Loop Line in Halewood.

Other recent incidents include:

• Two males, aged 20 and 18, and two females, aged 15 and 29, held and four suspected stolen motorbikes seized from a property in Garston on Thursday
• A 21-year-old man from Liverpool arrested after a group of males were riding e-bikes in an anti-social manner in Stanley Park, in Anfield on Wednesday
• An 18-year-old man from Wavertree arrested on suspicion of robbery following a report of an e-bike robbery on Sunday
• A 42-year-old woman and 17-year-old male arrested and five e-bikes seized from a property in Huyton on 27 April

Supt Phil Mullally said: "Although we have made a number of arrests and positive seizures of e-bikes over the past week or so, this work will not stop now and our officers will be in the south Liverpool and Knowsley areas this weekend.

“We are determined to make sure those who put themselves and others at serious risk of injury or worse are brought to justice, and the vehicles they use taken off them.

"The use of electric bikes in Merseyside can be linked to drugs supply and organised crime groups as a means to transport illegal substances and weapons around our communities."

He urged owners of e-bikes to register with Bike Register, the UK’s national bike marking and registration scheme, which helps to reduce cycle theft, identify stolen bikes and return recovered bikes to their rightful owners.

The superintendent added owners may want to consider using bike tracking devices and display labels on your bike advising that a tracker is there.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]