Summary The story is seen by some as an example of poetic justice. Photo courtesy:BBC News
(Web Desk) - A bicycle theft took a bizarre turn in Bristol, England after the victim managed to steal back her cycle from the thief.
According to BBC News the incident began when cyclist Jenni Morton-Humphreys got her £800 Cube bike stolen from a bike rack at Harbourside (Bristol) about six weeks ago. Seeing the theft Jenni immediately posted photos of her bike on a Bristol Cycling Facebook page and implored users for aiding in its return.
By a stroke of luck within two hours a member of the Facebook group saw the bike advertised for sale for £100 and informed Jenni about it. He then told the seller that he wanted the bike for his sister and arranged a meeting for the following day.
Jenni meanwhile got ready for her sting. She took a friend along with her to the meeting who then stayed close by in case any thing went wrong or the seller got suspicious. She also states that she took care not to bring along any valuables in case the seller asked for her phone or money.
When the sting began Jenni says she gave the seller "some keys and cigarettes" (the keys were for the two locks that had been cut off the bike during the theft) to make it feel like she was coming back. Afterwards she cycled away from the scene while according to her friend the seller "just stood there looking confused".
After this ordeal Jenni, whose story has attracted much online attention, says that she is now using her "less expensive" bike for travelling purposes.
Although this theft may have had a happy ending police says that they do not encourage such behavior as it gives suspects a head start in destroying evidence. A police spokesman from Avon and Somerset stated that: "We d advise against people taking matters into their own hands due the risks involved and the fact it provides criminals with an opportunity to destroy evidence before we can investigate them."
Bicycles are being increasingly used in the West as people see them as an easy cheap alternative to cars for travelling short distances. However as this incident shows bicycles are also easier to steal as they have comparatively less protection than cars.
