Lancashire Police seize e-scooter as balaclava wearing rider runs off during crackdown on e-bikes and scooters
“Unfortunately for him, when he realised he was being approached by a plain clothed police officer, he tried to make a dramatic getaway.”
A ‘mystery man’ made off on foot when Thornton Cleveleys Police stopped him on an e-scooter.
It was part of a special operation to clamp down on e-bikes and e-scooters being ridden illegally and following concerns from people who live locally.
Police seized three e-scooters which all be destroyed.
A police spokesperson said the scooters were seized from a man who tried to make a getaway when he realised he was being approached from a plain clothed police officer.
“One of the scooters was seized from a mystery man who looked really cool - well he thought he did - in his shorts, T-shirt and summer essential balaclava.”
“Unfortunately for him, when he realised he was being approached by a plain clothed police officer, he tried to make a dramatic getaway.
“This is where his experience and skill ended.”
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Police said the launch was ‘bold’; the turn ‘ambitious and the dismount was ‘completely involuntary.
“After meeting the ground, mystery man decided cardio was faster than electric and ran off as fast as his little feet would carry him.
“Mystery Man - don't worry, we've taken your scooter for safe keeping and will take good care of it until its gets destroyed.
E- Scooters are classed as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEV) and can only be ridden on private land with the land owner’s permission.
To legally ride one on a public highway the rider must be 16+, have passed a CBT and have a valid MOT, Tax and Insurance OR have rented the scooter through an authorised scheme.
However police assured there were no such schemes currently running in Lancashire.
The latest crack down comes after an incident at Rossall, widely circulated on social media last week where a child was reportedly hit by an e-bike reader causing him injuries.
Earlier this year, 50-year-old Fleetwood man Stuart McBride died from serious head injuries after the illegally ridden electric bike he was using collided with a parked car in Brock Avenue. An inquest heard he suffered fatal injuries following the collision in February, with Assistant Coroner Richard Taylor recording a conclusion of death by road traffic collision.
Police are urging residents to continue reporting areas where illegal e-bikes and e-scooters are being ridden, as well as riders causing concern, promising that officers will act on information received.