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Caught on camera: The moment a gang of teenagers nicked David Cameron's beloved bike
Last updated at 21:04pm on 24.07.08
It probably wouldn't have been the best moment to remind David Cameron about hugging hoodies.
The Tory leader found himself stranded on his way home from work when teenage thieves made off with his bicycle as he shopped for salad.
He had often been pictured on the prized mountain bike cycling to Westminster.
Upset: David Cameron calls for help after his bike went missing
Mr Cameron had chained it up on Wednesday evening in Portobello Road, West London, as he went into a Tesco supermarket near his home.
When he returned five minutes later, the silver and black Scott bike had gone. A Tory spokesman said it was probably worth £250 to £300.
Cameron looks on in horror as he realises his bike has gone
Mr Cameron, 41, had placed the chain through the bike's wheel and around a 2ft bollard – allowing the thieves to simply lift both the bicycle and the lock clear.
Market trader Gary Brown, 32, said: 'At first I don't think he realised what had happened and thought he had forgotten where he had left it.
'Then he just could not believe he had been the victim of petty crime. He asked if we had seen anyone take his bike and we just laughed at him.
'There was a group of kids hanging around and I think they just lifted it straight off the bollard. Everyone thought it was quite funny – he was very calm though. After a bit, he walked off towards his house looking a bit dejected.'
Mr Cameron said he had reported the theft to police but was not 'holding his breath' for its return.
He added: 'I've had the bike for six years. A friend gave it to me as a present. It has 30 gears. To me it was absolutely priceless. It's like losing an old friend.'
A bewildered Cameron walks up and down the street looking for his beloved bike
Later he joked: 'I'm contemplating introducing sharia law for bicycle theft.'
Mr Cameron and the bike have enjoyed a high media profile since he became Tory leader three years ago.
He has often been shown cycling to the Commons, but two years ago it was revealed that his chauffeur-driven car followed him, carrying his work shoes, briefcase and a clean shirt.
In March, he apologised after being filmed ignoring red lights and cycling the wrong way up a one-way street.
Riding high: David Cameron on his bike
Reader views (16)
"He asked if we had seen anyone take his bike and we just laughed at him."
"Everyone thought it was quite funny"
What's funny about crime, again? How pathetic.
- David, London
Suggest he checks in with the local council, as even over here in Denmark, London councils are known as the biggest bike thieves around. Apparently the councils pay private companies to collect "abandoned" bicycles, these companies give scallies a bounty for each one they "find".
Oh dear, he chained it to a 2 foot bollard? Sounds like he's perfectly suited to a high flying career in politics!
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
Who's the biggest bungler - Boris Johnson or David Cameron?! Vote for Mr. Bean - he's more street-wise!
- John, London
Does anyone else find it worrying that a potential leader of our country thought that padlocking his bike to a 2ft high bollard was a good idea?
- Emma, Nunhead, UK
Yes, give them a big hug Dave as that's your solution for the rest of us. Better still, give them the bike anyway!
- Janet, London
Michael of Switzerland, stick to making cuckoo clocks & cheese with holes in. When you consider the alternatives in this country to our present government we are a bit stuck for choice.
- Tony Soley, hemyock, Devon
This is what happens, same as to the rest of us, when the elite descend from their ivory towers. Does he still feel like hugging the hoodies -- or doing something a little bit more realistic like giving them a good kicking... if they can be found...and recognised.
- Judith Chisholm, London
Well I hope he's planning on giving them a BIG HUG if they are caught as per his hug-a-hoodie spin.
- Kitty, London
Well that's life in the outside world!
- Suzzy, England
"Chained to a 2 ft bollard, allowing thieves to lift both the bicycle and the lock clear " sounds like just the man to put in charge of the country !
- Michael, Switzerland
Maybe he left it in the boot of his ministerial car.
- Adam, Harrow, uk
Our David might become a gay icon
I'm luvving the shorts Dave...
- Paul, Bromley
Not too long now and he wont need his bike!
Hey Labour, any chance of restoring democracy in this country?
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Perhaps he'll hug them when it's recovered?
- T Blair, London
Hey David! Sorry for the loss but more importantly Welcome to the normal life us Londoners face on a daily basis!
Hey maybe you will learn from this and re-instate tougher Sentences on criminals? .. maybe then someone will think twice about taking your bike in future?
- Phil, London
If only he had hugged the hoodies more!
- Phil Jones, London UK
