Owner devastated by theft of rare bike (From Thurrock Gazette)

Owner devastated by theft of rare bike

8:00am Sunday 29th April 2012 in News

A MOTORBIKE owner has been left devastated after a rare trials bike he owned for more than 30 years was stolen.

Terry Sewell, 65, of Digby Road, Corringham, was heading out for a motocross competition in Colchester early on Saturday, April 14, when he noticed his van had been stolen.

Inside the van, loaded up ready for the competition, was Terry’s rare red Greeves motorbike, one of only two in the South East of England.

The van, which also contained thousands of pounds worth of parts for his motorbike business, was later found abandoned in Blackbush Lane, Horndon-on-the-Hill, but the bike, worth £2,500, and £3,000 of spare parts were missing.

Terry told the Gazette: “The van is fine, I’ve got that back. But the main thing is my bike which means so much to me and is of real sentimental value.”

“I’ve won competitions on it in Belgium, France and the UK. It’s one of only two in the South East of England.

“My business has also been really badly affected. I’ve lost a lot.

“They knew what they were doing, because they sorted through everything, taking what was valuable. They also put the van’s tracking device into a tin box so it wouldn’t pick up any signal.”

The theft of Terry’s motorcycle comes amid a spate of bike thefts in Thurrock.

A £2,000 white KTM 125 scrambler bike was reported stolen on Sunday, after it went missing from a locked shed in Hertford Drive, Fobbing.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: “We would advise all bike owners to ensure they fully secure their vehicles at all times.

“If you see anyone behaving suspiciously around them, notify police.”

The registration of Terry’s missing red bike is BRK71D. Call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.