CRIMINALS joyriding a stolen motorbike abandoned the vehicle and fled through a cemetery after being spotted by the police.
Police officers pulled over in Mersea Road, Colchester, to speak with the delinquents before they disembarked and escaped on foot.
An Essex Police spokeswoman said the constables initially became suspicious when noticing the vehicle was being driven without a registration plate on Tuesday evening.
“When officers signalled for the bike to stop, the two people on the bike fled the scene leaving the bike, which had been reported stolen a couple of months earlier, behind,” she stated.
“The suspects fled the scene through the cemetery. Our inquiries continue.”
The force is now hunting the duo involved in the incident, which took place at about 6pm.
The spokeswoman added: “We would also like to hear from anyone with dashcam or doorbell footage of the area at the time.
An eyewitness, who lives in Colchester, said traffic was held up in Mersea Road as officers dealt with the incident.
He said: “I drove past and saw the motorbike lying on the ground by the side of the road.
“What kind of idiot would drive around without a number plate, especially on a stolen bike?”
Berechurch councillor Dave Harris said he fears motorbikes are being targeted across Colchester.
“It is absolutely shocking. The people doing this sort of thing have no care for themselves or other people,” said the former motorcyclist.
“I feel sorry for whoever’s bike it is. We all love our bikes, they give you a sense of freedom and this is taken away when someone steals from you.”
The councillor, who owns a Triumph, revealed he saw two balaclava-clad people on a motorbike in the Mersea Road area on Thursday evening.
He added: “I believe motorbikes are being targeted in Colchester.
"I would urge all residents to lock their vehicles up securely and install a tracker, if possible."
If you have any information which can help the police investigation, you should call 101 and cite incident 0996 of November 8.
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