Dramatic moment armed thieves threaten to kill hero bystanders who attack them as they try to steal a £40,000 motorbike in London and force them to flee empty-handed

  • Would-be thieves were seen pulling up in Soho Square yesterday at 2pm
  • The pair, wearing helmets, began using an angle grinder to steal the Ducati
  • Witness confronted pair but was told: 'If you come near me I will kill you'
  • Duo fled from scene but had to abandon bike when witness pushed them into a van

By Steph Cockroft for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

This is the moment armed thugs threatened to kill hero bystanders as they foiled their attempts to steal a £40,000 motorbike from a busy central London square.

The would-be thieves were seen pulling up in Soho Square yesterday afternoon where they used an angle grinder to cut through the metal lock on a parked superbike.

Drama then unfolded as two witnesses confronted the pair, in a bid to stop them making off with the vehicle. 

This is the moment brave passers-by attacked armed thieves as they attempted to steal a £40,000 motorbike from a busy square in central London

This is the moment brave passers-by attacked armed thieves as they attempted to steal a £40,000 motorbike from a busy square in central London

The would-be thieves were seen pulling up in Soho Square yesterday afternoon where they began using an angle grinder to cut through the metal lock on a parked superbike
As witnesses confronted the suspects, one of them chased one of them away

The would-be thieves were seen pulling up in Soho Square yesterday afternoon where they began using an angle grinder to cut through the metal lock on a parked superbike (left). As witnesses confronted the suspects, one of them chased one of them away (right)

One of the suspects - who was wearing a helmet - then lunged at one of the witnesses and shouted: 'If you come near me I will kill you.'

As more passers-by arrived at the scene, he continued to shout a series of threats - including 'don't f*** with me' and 'move back' - as he brandished the weapon.

The footage, recorded at the scene by a tourist from Brazil, then shows one of the men pulling away on the bike, as his accomplice rides off of his own. 

But, as they do, one of the brave witnesses is seen shoving the bike from behind, causing it to wobble and veer into a van.

The would-be thief then falls to the ground and is forced to abandon the bike in the middle of the street.

He then jumps onto his accomplice's scooter and the pair flee the scene, empty-handed.

One of the suspects - who was wearing a helmet - was brandishing an angle grinder at passers-by and lunged at a man who tried to intervene
He shouted threats including: 'If you come near me I will kill you'

One of the suspects - who was wearing a helmet - was brandishing an angle grinder at passers-by and lunged at a man who tried to intervene, shouting: 'If you come near me I will kill you'

The suspects finally managed to pull away on the bike. But, as the did, one of the witnesses pushed the bike from behind, causing it to wobble and veer into a van (pictured)

The suspects finally managed to pull away on the bike. But, as the did, one of the witnesses pushed the bike from behind, causing it to wobble and veer into a van (pictured)

The suspects were forced to ditch the £40,000 bike when one of the would-be thieves fell off
The bike was left languishing on the side of the road

The suspects were forced to ditch the £40,000 bike (left and right) and leave it on the side of the road when one of the would-be thieves fell off during the attempted getaway 

Police were called and the owner of the Ducati was contacted to collect his bike.

Underneath a video of the incident, posted online by Andre Goetten, he gave his name as Ron William and said anyone with information that leads to catching the suspects would be rewarded 'handsomely'. 

The owner - who said he parks there frequently - added that he had offered the heroic witness a reward but that he had refused. 

Mr Goetten, 30, stumbled across the drama as he was walking back to his hotel from Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park then filmed.

The pair then fled the scene, empty-handed (pictured), as witnesses tried to chase the duo

The pair then fled the scene, empty-handed (pictured), as witnesses tried to chase the duo

He told the Evening Standard: 'I wasn’t scared because I’m used to this thing happening where I’m from, but I was surprised to see it happen in London.

'Even in Brazil they wait until the night time before trying to steal any motorbikes.'

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said officers had been called to reports of an attempted theft but that no arrests had been made. 

They said: 'Two males, a rider and a pillion passenger, were seen driving around the locations on a moped acting suspiciously.

'They attempted to steal a motorbike in Soho Square and a short while later stole a black Ducati motorbike in Manette Street. The stolen bike was later recovered.

'The suspects are described as white and Mediterranean appearance and aged in their 20s.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Westminster police on 101 ot call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

London

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