Two Gloucester businesses fell victim to overnight break-ins between 3 and 5 July, with offenders on electric bikes smashing through a shop door on Old Cheltenham Road and power tools being stolen from a van on Paygrove Lane. The alerts were issued by Gloucestershire Constabulary via its Your Community Alerts system on 6 July.
At 02:42 on Saturday 4 July, two suspects arrived on electric bikes and shattered the glass of the main door to steal multiple items and cash. Both are described as white males wearing black hoodies, black trainers, black trousers and orange cross-body bags. Between 16:30 on Friday 3 July and 08:00 on Sunday 5 July, a van on Paygrove Lane was targeted and a Stihl disk cutter, hydraulic breaker and drills were taken. Police warn such tools could be used in further crimes. Residents with information are asked to quote incident numbers 075-04/07/26 or 162-05/07/26.
The use of electric bikes in local offences has been a growing concern. In August 2025, the force ran Operation Shield, seizing 33 e-bikes and scooters across the city and making nine arrests. That operation also netted illegal vapes and counterfeit goods, while dispersal orders were issued to curb anti-social behaviour in the city centre.
Inspector Ash Gardner has previously confirmed that dispersal orders remain in place for Gloucester. Sergeant McCartney of the city’s neighbourhood policing team said tackling such behaviour stays a priority. Anyone witnessing a crime in progress should call 999 immediately.
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