Motorcyclists forming vigilante groups to catch ‘moped muggers’

MOTORCYCLISTS are taking the law into their own hands over London’s scooter crime wave by forming vigilante groups to catch them, it has been claimed.

A leaflet pinned to a noticeboard in London’s Ace Café called on riders to ‘Come TMAX hunting,’ according to Bikerandbike.co.uk.

Reports of thefts and robberies by scooter gangs, labelled ‘moped muggers’ by the press, have become an almost daily occurrence in recent weeks.

Incidents caught on film include attempted bike jackings, mobile phone robberies and a botched mugging which left the victim with a broken leg.

The gangs strike more than once an hour in London, with 11,000 incidents including robberies and acid attacks recorded last year, according to recently revealed figures.

The leaflet calls for action specifically against motorcycle theft, saying: ‘Had your bike stolen recently?? Want to catch these f*****s?? Sort ‘em?? Come TMAX hunting with Jack Th’ Lad.’

The notice includes a telephone number which has been obscured from an image posted on Facebook by London Motorcycle Crime, a page campaigning against the problem.

The Ace Cafe confirmed the notice had briefly been on display but added it was “not something we support”.

Superintendent Mark Payne of the Met’s Operation Venice, set up to target scooter-enabled crime, told Huffpost UK that the force “does not support activities by individuals or groups who target suspected criminals”.

He said vigilantes “could be putting themselves at risk” and could also “jeopardise or interfere with ongoing investigations”.

He said: “Our advice to anyone who has information about a suspect or witnesses a crime is to contact police as soon as possible so it can be investigated and, where possible, bring people to justice.”