Terrified mum 'steals back' bike from thief after police refuse to go with her and confront him (7 Pics)

Sharron Jenson took matters into her own hands

A terrified mum took matters into her own hands and 'stole back' her own bike after police closed the case due to 'lack of evidence'.

Sharron Jenson was fuming when she realised her £700 bike had been pinched from her local high street.

She reported the theft to police and turned detective in a bid to be reunited with it.

Days later she saw it was being advertised for sale on Gumtree, and she followed police advice to contact the seller pretending to be a 'buyer'.

But despite getting his first name, an address and phone number, police refused to accompany her to the thief's home, forcing her to go alone.

She nabbed back the bike by posing as a buyer and then cycled off, and after confirming it was hers she informed police - giving them a detailed description of the alleged criminal.

But officers said there was a "insufficient information to proceed with an investigation".

Housewife Sharron from south London has slammed the "state of policing".

She said: "It has made me realise how bad the state of police is here.

"It's unbelievable that victims of crimes are having to investigate and then collect their own stolen items.

"And then nothing is done still. It makes me so angry. No wonder criminals think they can get away with it - because they can.

"I was nervous for weeks after I took it back.

"I didn't sleep properly for days.

"I feel so angry and so helpless and feel like I am not safe."

Sharron's bike was stolen from Kingston High Street on July 20 and she immediately reported the theft to police.

The thief's advert for Sharron's bike 

She found it for sale on Gumtree five days later and got back in touch with the Met who told her to contact him posing as a buyer and arrange a viewing.

"They said to me to contact the guy, but not to go see him on my own, stall him and tell them, and they can see if someone can go with me to get it," she said.

She asked the thief if she could come and see it at the weekend, but the seller - who was selling multiple cycles for up to £800 - stopped replying and the bike was later removed from the listing website.

The next day she took all the screenshots from the website - with a first name and phone number - to police.

She claims after waiting for two hours at a police station, the desk clerk said "we don't have the man power to look at these sorts of things".

Sharron added: "I have to admit I started getting a bit obsessed. I started researching the guy and looking everywhere - Shpock, Gumtree, everywhere."

Nine days after her bike was first stolen it popped up on Gumtree again and she told police who simply told her "we've updated your case", she said.

But when nobody got back to her she bought a cheap simcard and texted the 'seller' offering £380 for the bike he'd listed for £420.

She instantly recognised the cycle because of the odd placement of the bell in the middle of the bars, and the seller handed over an address in Surrey.

But when she got back in touch with police she claims they said because it had left London they couldn't go with her.

She claims they eventually admitted it was their responsibility after Surrey Police intervened - but then refused to join her for the collection.

"They said nobody would be able to come with and that was that," said Sharron.

"They didn't give a reason."

Desperate Sharron tried to pay workmen from a building site to accompany her but they refused, and 999 call handlers said they weren't able to stay on the line while she confronted the thief.

So terrified Sharron went alone to meet the suspected bike nabber on August 1, parking a few streets away.

"We met elsewhere and walked to the house. He asked me multiple times to come into the house but I said no," she said.

"It was really frightening. I thought 'what am I doing'.

"I know he's only a bike thief, but here I was confronting him. I was really nervous."

She recognised the bike was hers asked if she could test drive it - and left him with an old empty handbag she had brought along as a decoy.

"In my head I was thinking 'this is so dangerous' but I knew it was my only chance.

"I cycled away and got to the corner and thought 'it's now or never'.

"I pedalled harder and harder and went faster and faster.

"I saw he wasn't following me and just kept going."

She went to the building site where workmen helped her match the bike's serial number to the receipt stashed in her bra - confirming it was hers.

She called 999 and claims call handlers said nobody could come to her - but told her to take refuge in a public place.

She nipped into a corner shop where staff kept her bike while she fetched her car.

The thief texted her demanding she bring it back and then later called - but laughed and hung up when she told him the bike was hers and accused him of theft.

She contacted police once more - providing his name, the address he sold from, description and phone number - but said officers said "it was my word against his".

"If they had come out when I had told them, they could have had everything they needed," she said.

"I feel totally let down."

A Met Police spokeswoman said: "On 20 July 2018 police received reports of a bike stolen from an address in Kingston.

"With no evidence available to them, officers made the decision that the case would be closed, as is proportionate in such circumstances.

"The owner of the bike, who reported it stolen to police, was made aware of the decision.

"The case was re-opened after the owner reported that the stolen bike was for sale on selling site, GumTree.

"The bike owner was advised to contact the seller in order to gain contact details that could assist police with the investigation.

"All information was reviewed and it was decided that there was insufficient information to proceed with an investigation. The alleged victim has been made aware.

"There were no arrests in this case."