Oxford News
Oxfordshire MP ‘gutted’ as £2,000 bike is stolen near pub
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran locked the bike near The Plain roundabout, went to the pub for half an hour and when she returned the bike was gone.
The Liberal Democrat MP has reported the theft and is hopeful that Thames Valley Police can help her get it back.
READ MORE: Police raid uncovers stolen bikes
She posted on Facebook: “Last night (3rd July) between 10.50-11.30 my electric cargo bike was stolen. Black Pakyak E+ with a baby carrier on the back.
“First time I’d taken it to town 
“We were there for one drink, maybe half hour max. And when I left the pub it was gone. If you saw anything please let me know.
“Have already made a police report and hope Thames Valley Police can do their best. I know this happens a lot but I am so gutted 
Layla Moran with her cargo bike (Image: Layla Moran)
PakYak E+ bikes can cost about £2,000.
Last week, police seized 19 bikes and e-bikes from a house in Gile Road, Littlemore, Oxford.
In total, 19 bicycles were seized and enquiries are continuing to establish their ownership and whether they are linked to further offences.
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran (Image: Contributed)
A 58-year-old man from Oxford has since been released on bail under investigation while police continue their work.
If you or someone you know has had a bike stolen recently, get in touch by calling 101, quoting the reference number 43260331201.
Proof of purchase and/or ownership of the bike is required in order to help officer confirm their true owner.
Cyclists can go to St Aldates police station to collect it, if it is a match.
The Cape of Good Hope at The Plain (Image: Oxford Mail)
Last year, Oxford was labelled a “magnet for bike theft” in a new study which has ranked the city second on a list of worst UK places for the crime.
The research team at VelociRAX, a company that specialises in bike racks, found there are 6.7 thefts per 1,000 people in Oxford.
The study used the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to calculate theft rates.
The methodology involved analysing recorded crime data specifically on bicycle thefts, covering 301 cities across the UK.
Each city was ranked from the worst to the best based on how many thefts occurred, relative to the population size, giving a clear picture of where cyclists are most at risk.
Despite campaigns encouraging better locking practices and CCTV in some areas, theft remains a persistent issue, the company said.
It added at the time: “Oxford’s university-driven culture and widespread cycling infrastructure make it a magnet for bike use and, unfortunately, bike theft.
“The cobbled streets may be charming, but they’re also littered with stories of missing bikes outside lecture halls and libraries.”