Delivery moped pushed along Gledwood Avenue in Hayes in suspected theft

Two riders were filmed apparently taking a delivery moped along Gledwood Avenue in Hayes at about 5.22pm on Monday 19 October. The person who filmed it believes the moped had just been stolen from outside a house.

The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed the incident. They have not said whether a theft has been reported or whether anyone has been arrested.

What the footage shows

Footage shared with UB1UB2 shows two riders in dark hoodies and face coverings with two mopeds on the residential street. One of the mopeds is a delivery bike with a top box and an L-plate.

In the clip the delivery moped falls over in the road and the pair stand it back up. One rider then stays on the other scooter and pushes the delivery moped along with his leg, while cars pass in both directions.

The person filming said the pair had arrived together on one scooter and took the delivery moped from outside a house on the street. That account has not been confirmed by police.

It happened early on a weekday evening, a time when people are usually coming home from work and school and children are often still out. Gledwood Avenue is a residential road in the UB4 area of north Hayes, lined on both sides with houses and parked cars.

Locals said it came a day after a car crashed into parked cars on nearby Gledwood Drive on the Sunday night. Police have not given any details about that incident.

A common crime in London

Moped and scooter theft has been a long-running problem across the capital. The Metropolitan Police have said in their crime prevention advice that more than 9,000 scooters, motorcycles and mopeds were stolen in London in a single year. They also warn that thieves can take a poorly secured bike in a matter of seconds.

Police say pushing a moped along from another bike is one way thieves move a vehicle they cannot start. Stolen mopeds can also end up being used in other crimes, such as phone snatches.

Under the Met's Be Safe campaign, riders are asked to lock, chain and cover their bikes so they are harder to steal and less visible to thieves. Police advise using a disc lock or ground anchor, fitting a Thatcham-rated alarm or tracker, and keeping the bike in a garage, shed or motorcycle locker at home where possible.

How to report it

The Met says anyone who sees a moped being stolen should call 999 straight away. If you find your bike has gone, you can report it online or by calling 101.

If the moped in the footage is yours, or you saw what happened on Gledwood Avenue, you can contact the police on 101. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.