Teenager robbed of motorbike at knife point in Birkenhead

On Tuesday, August 23 at around 7.50pm the victim stopped at traffic lights at the junction of Park Road North and Laird Street.

While waiting at the lights, two bikes, each containing two men, sped up and stopped on either side of the victim before trying to take his keys from the ignition.  

The victim's mum told the Globe: “One of the men jumped off his bike and said to him, ‘what’s your name?’ but he didn't respond.

Park Road North

“He then went to grab the keys from the bike, but my son grabbed them first.

“Then the lad pulled a knife out and said, ‘let go of the keys or I’ll f****** stab you’.”

The victim was then told to get off the bike before the men sped off with it.

She said: “He was so quiet when he came home. He was in complete shock and didn’t know what was going on.  

“He is traumatised. He didn’t sleep the night after the incident.”

The mum said she felt “physically sick” when she heard the news about her son.

She said: “It’s not just that the bikes been stolen it’s that someone has held a knife to my child and threatened to stab him.

“On the night of the incident, I was just lying there thinking what on earth had just happened. He could have been killed.

“They could have stabbed him over an £800 moped. It’s over nothing but it meant everything to my son.”

“It makes me feel physically sick at what could have happened. Even the thought of him being terrified at the time makes me feel helpless.”

Since the robbery, the mum says her son “fears” something might happen again.

She said: “I said to him the bike is replaceable you’re not.

“Me and his dad have told him not to worry about the bike and that we can get him another one.

“But he said he doesn’t want one because he doesn’t want to go through anything like that again.

“It’s the after-effect he doesn’t want to get on a bike again through fear.”

The mum said her son, who used the moped to get to college and work, is now limited on where he can go.

She said: “He used this bike to get to college because he’s doing his A-levels, he works an evening part-time job, he uses it to get to and from there, he goes to a gym every day, but he won’t be able to get there now.

“He’s so restricted now after having that little bit of independence.

“He’s such a good kid he never causes anyone any bother he just gets on with his studies.

“It’s sad because he wouldn’t harm a fly. He’s got such a lovely nature to him and it’s just vile that something like this has put him off now.”

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police told the Globe: "We are appealing for information following a robbery in Birkenhead on Tuesday, 23 August.

"At around 7.50pm we received a report that a male victim had his black moped stolen at traffic lights at the junction of Park Road North and Laird Street.

"It was reported that two bikes, each containing two male riders, approached the victim, took the keys out of the ignition and stole the moped.

"It was further reported that one the suspects was carrying a knife.

"One of the male suspects drove away on the moped in the direction of Conway Street.

"No injuries were reported.

"Anyone who witnessed the incident, or with any information is asked to contact police."

Detective Inspector Emma Kerrigan said “We simply will not stand by and allow people to carry knives and threaten the safety of themselves and others.

“We rely on members of the public coming forward with information about such incidents to keep our streets safer.
 
“If you were in the Birkenhead area on Tuesday evening and saw this incident or anyone suspicious then please come forward.

"Similarly, if you were driving on the A553 and have dashcam footage then please review it and if you see anything, including a black moped being driven in the area, please let us know.
 
“Tell us what you know about this incident and we’ll take positive action to remove those who use weapons to cause fear and harm in our communities from our streets.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or call 101 with reference 22000003723. 
 
“You can also call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.”