The bike-jacking gangs terrorising London’s parks

Violent gangs on mopeds are increasingly targeting cyclists’ expensive racing bikes, reports Robbie Griffiths

EARLY one Friday at the start of this month, Miguel Varona was cycling around Archway junction on his way to his regular ride in Regent's Park. He knew something was wrong as soon as three men, dressed in black, pulled up alongside him on a moped. As they went past, the trio looked closely at his bike, then turned after they had passed by, clearly targeting him.

"It sped towards me and the second man tried to take my bike," he recalls. Varona, 49, is a keen racer, and considered trying to outpace the trio. On second thoughts, considering his young family, he stopped and handed over his beloved Trek Madone, worth several thousand pounds. As the moped sped into the distance, he noticed it had no number plates. He's been nervous about riding ever since.

For many, cycling in London is an intimidating prospect, with accusations from the London Cycling Campaign that Transport for London has been "shamefully slow" at improving safety at junctions where cyclists are at risk. The increase in violent attacks is yet another black mark for cycle safety.

Varona is one of many who have been targeted by organised robbers in the capital in recent months. Figures released around the new year show that around two bike-jackings a day are taking place in London, with muggers often on mopeds and threatening victims with machetes. They target cyclists riding specific makes and models - Regent's Park is the most recent location - but it's an epidemic across the capital, from Richmond Park to Victoria Park.

This week, a gang even worked out where one of Varona's fellow riders lived. They waited outside his flat until he left, then smashed in the door and took two expensive bikes.