Following local residents complaints, as Councillors, we raised concerns the West Yorkshire Police's City Centre and South Teams about the spate of Theft From Motor Vehicles and Theft of Pedal Cycles along the riverside. These concerns where also raised at the recent Leeds Dock Residents Meeting. An update is below:
Good morning Cllr,
Following the residents meeting where the issue of Theft of Pedal Cycles and Damage/Theft from Motor Vehicles was raised I just wanted to give you a quick update.
This week we have arrested, charged and bailed a male suspect who stole a bicycle from Leeds City Centre. He will be in court shortly.
On Monday we arrested a male for Theft from Motor Vehicle in the Leeds Dock area – we had confirmed from the victim what had been stolen and due to this he was charged and remanded for court.
We have re-contacted the victim today and they has said he would rather not give a statement – we believe this male is prolific and has been committing numerous offences that we don’t have evidence for.
Unless this male admits the offence today we will have to drop the prosecution and he will be released with the ability to commit further offences. Please could you remind residents of the importance of them supporting prosecutions to assist us to prevent offending.
On another positive note though , male who I mentioned who was wanted for a string of thefts from vehicles across the district including some we believe he has committed on Hunslet and Riverside Ward has been arrested, charged and remanded for a large number of offences and so we are hopeful of a custodial sentence.
Please keep reporting these matters to West Yorkshire Police. They need the evidence to stop these crimes.