Tuesday, 19 March 2024
FeaturedNews

Historic Sheffield bike shop ram-raided for 2nd time in 48 hours

An investigation has been launched after Langsett Cycles, Sheffield suffered two ram-raids in the days leading up to Christmas 2019.

Police were called at around 4.14am on Sunday 22 December following reports of a burglary at Langsett Cycles on Infirmary Rd. A silver Ford Focus had been used to ram-raided the store. The car tore the shutters from the shop front and smashed through the automated glass door before a number of high-end mountain bikes, along with a breast cancer charity box, were stolen.

Less than 48 hours later at around 11.05pm on Monday 23 December, the same vehicle was again used to ram the building, this time through the main cycle showroom. On this second occasion, part of the showroom floor gave way which trapped the vehicle in the store. Nothing was reported stolen and the suspects are believed to have fled the scene empty-handed.

Both raids have caused substantial damage to the building and stock, particularly in the main cycle showroom and in the cellar used for storage below where the showroom floor gave way. The time of year as made getting help difficult, the retailer said: “The main entrance of the store has been completely bordered up but fortunately we’ve managed to open up an old side door so we can be open to trade the best we can.”

Langsett Cycles is one of the longest established cycle shops in the country having been founded in 1890. Devastated owner Andrew Elston said: “It is just so disappointing. It is no secret that retail on the high street is having a tough time at the moment and this feels like a hammer blow, particularly the 2nd raid. The shop is 130 years old in 2020, we were planning on celebrating this achievement with lots of special events but having a sale of damaged stock in January was not in those plans.”

Elston also owns a cycle hire business in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca called Mallorca Bike Hire: “Fortunately our business in Mallorca is closed during the winter months from mid November until mid February so at least I’m in the UK to help deal with everything but the temptation to jump on the next plane out there as never been greater!”