Bicycle thief ditches his own bike at the scene of the crime - forgets about DNA

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Post:

Bicycle thief ditches his own bike at the scene of the crime - forgets it is covered in his DNA


Bristol Parkway station

A bike thief, who left another cyclist stranded at a Bristol train station was caught after leaving his own bike at the crime scene, covered in his DNA.

Andrew Grubb, 39, of Kemperleye Way, Bradley Stoke, left a teacher stranded at Bristol Parkway station in November last year when he stole his road bike.

Grubb removed the frame from the victim's front wheel, then stole a wheel from another nearby bike, and constructed a bicycle he could ride away on.

Unfortunately for Grubb, witnesses saw him leave behind an old, rusty bike which he rode to the station on.

This was DNA swabbed by the British Transport Police forensic team and the results provided a full hit for Grubb, a known bike thief who lived just minutes from the station.

Appearing before Bristol Magistrates' Court on 17 February, Grubb was ordered to pay the owner of the high value bike ^1,000 in compensation and the other cyclist ^40 for the stolen wheel.

PC Will Russell from BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) said: "This was a victim-focused prosecution, aimed at getting the best result for the victims while treating the underlying issues of Grubb's offending. This case also demonstrates our determination to clamp down on cycle thieves on the rail network, showing we will use all options available to us to trace offenders and ensure they are brought to justice."

The payout was part of a community order which also requires Grubb to attend a six-month drug rehabilitation course and carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activity.