How I nearly lost my bike to a power tool-wielding thief

Barney Davis reports on crime for The Independent’ but almost became a victim... until a have-a-go hero stepped in

- Barney Davis

Locking my bicycle to railings in the middle of the day while reporting for The Independent, I foolishly assumed my two wheels would be safe.

Returning several hours later, I found two police officers standing over it as its anti-theft alarm rang out. “You’re lucky it’s still here mate, this guy stopped the thief,” said one of the officers, signalling a grey-haired man.

Mark Vinall, a pony-tailed cameraman, had been staging a live segment for the evening news when he saw orange sparks flying as a large hooded man hunched over my red onyx bike frame.

Covering crime in London, I am used to people filming mobile e-bike phone grabs, stabbings and even a street fight with nunchucks. But you rarely see the cameraman step in and turn the tables on the culprit.