Boy, 13, has bike stolen from Thorley Park Sainsbury’s while he popped into store for three minutes

A 13-year-old boy had his bicycle stolen from outside a Bishop’s Stortford supermarket on Saturday morning (March 8) – while he was inside the store for just three minutes.

The teenager had cycled to Sainsbury’s at Thorley Park from his home in Hadham Road and was with a friend.

They left their bikes locked together at the bicycle stand round the side of the front entrance and went into the shop to buy sweets at 10.55am.

When they emerged three minutes later, one of the bikes – a black Cube with distinctively wide handlebars and bright blue bar grips – had been stolen.

His parents contacted the Indie in the hope of hearing from anyone who witnessed the theft or saw someone suspicious.

His father said: “He was inside for three minutes buying sweets.

“They have no CCTV or security with visibility of the bike racks.

“Since it’s such a blind spot, and the [thief] clearly had the tool for the job, I can’t help but suspect they identified that area as a soft touch.”

The victim uses the bike to cycle to school at The Bishop’s Stortford High School. His mum said: “He’s just arrived home super-upset.”