Loanhead man spooked callous thieves who smashed their way into garage through window - but they escaped with his 'pride and joy' mountain bike

Callous thieves smashed their way into a Loanhead garage and made off with the owner’s “pride and joy” mountain bike early this morning.

But Marc Philip spooked the culprits - forcing them to dump the motorcycle trials bike they also tried to steal - when he received a phone alert from his home camera system which detected movement outside the property in The Loan at around 5:30am on Monday.

The 21-year-old joiner said: “I got up to go to the gym anyway and the cameras were set off and when I checked, the garage door was open, so I ran downstairs and opened my back door and started shouting and they ran off - but they must have been running with one of the bikes.”

Marc said the thieves managed to smash a small side window to his garage, squeeze inside and then cut the padlocks to his £3,000 mountain bike and his trials bike which were both anchored to the ground.

Home video footage captured one person attempting to steal Marc's motorcycle trials bike. Pic: Marc Philip

He reported the incident to police and says he was left fuming by the actions of those responsible - who he believes to be youths given they could fit through the garage window – especially as his grandmother and younger sister were also in the house at the time.

Marc, who had saved up to buy the 2020 Nukeproof green mountain bike for his 21st birthday in March, said: “It’s my pride and joy and it’s just s**** this has happened. I am angry and gutted. It’s my number one hobby.”

Marc says he competed with his mountain bike before lockdown and regularly takes it all over Scotland with family and friends.

Video footage from his home camera system shows one person dressed in grey attempting to escape with his trials bike, which was left resting against the wall of the house.

Marc had saved up to buy the 2020 Nukeproof green mountain bike for his 21st birthday in March. Pic: Marc Philip

Marc believes there must have been more than one person involved as they attempted to take the two bikes.

He said another resident on the street reported that his van had been broken into on Monday morning and that several work tools were stolen.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We were called around 5.35am on Monday, 2 November, to a report of a bike being stolen from a garage at a property in The Loan, Loanhead.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

Footage from his home camera system.

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