POLICE officers on foot spent half an hour chasing two alleged bike thieves through Collie CBD streets in the rain yesterday (Wednesday).
But their quarry got away.
Snr Sgt Rod Boehm, the officer in charge of Collie Police Station, said the chase took place between 2 to 3.30pm.
Collie police knew one of them, believed to be the main offender, “very well”, he said.
A bike had been reported stolen in a call from Crank ’n Cycles n’ Toys yesterday - it had actually been taken two days previously.
The store’s mechanic, Pedro Taylor, said the “young fellow” who owned the $500 bike made the report only after seeing two people with it on Forrest Street.
He confronted them and said it was his bike but the offenders asked for $60 to give it back, Mr Taylor said.
The victim paid the money and later told Mr Taylor about the incident.
Mr Taylor told him: “You can’t let them get away with that.”
At his urging, the victim reported the incident to the police.
Snr Srgt Boehm said the offenders would likely be charged with stealing but not for extortion.
He warned the public not to pay for their own stolen items but to immediately report such crimes to the police.
