A Preston father has made a public appeal after his son’s valuable bicycle was stolen from the city centre while the teenager was at work.
Locked behind gate but cut free
The incident took place on Saturday 25 July. The bicycle, described as a white Cube CMS full-suspension with additional upgrades and an estimated value of £1,500, was secured behind a keypad-locked gate on Theatre Street when offenders cut through the lock and removed the machine.
A local witness reported seeing the bike outside The Grey Friar pub approximately an hour after the theft. The victim’s father, Ian Porter, said his son uses the bike to commute to work and saved to buy it, and that its loss has left the young man having to pay for bus fares instead.
“He’s worked hard to be able to buy this bike. He uses it to commute to work and saves him having to pay for bus fares – but he’s now having to do that.”
Police investigation under way
Preston police have confirmed the lock was cut and the bicycle stolen. Enquiries remain ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Lancashire Constabulary.
- Incident date: 25 July
- Reported time of theft: around 9.30am
- Witness sighting: around 10.30am near The Grey Friar
- Police log reference: 0614 of 25 July
How residents can help
Police ask anyone with relevant information, or who may have seen the bicycle in the city-centre area that morning, to call 101 quoting the log reference above. Owners of CCTV or dashcam footage that covers Theatre Street, surrounding side streets or the route towards Fishergate and Market Street at the times indicated are urged to check recordings and pass them to officers.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Bicycle make/model | White Cube CMS full-suspension with upgrades |
| Estimated value | £1,500 |
| Location | Theatre Street, Preston city centre (near The Grey Friar) |
| Incident date/time | 25 July, theft approx. 9.30am; sighting ~10.30am |
| Police reference | Log 0614 of 25 July |
The theft highlights ongoing concerns about thefts of bicycles in urban centres, even when owners take precautions such as securing bikes behind locked gates. For commuters who rely on cycles for affordable travel, losing a bike can have immediate financial and practical consequences.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lancashire Constabulary on 101 quoting log 0614 of 25 July.
