Theft Description

<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica;">My Brompton P6R 2010 Brompton folding bike (with P-type handlebars an back carrier frame), was stolen outside Tate Britain, Millbank between 12.30 and 14.30, on 20.03.2018. It was securely locked to the official Tate Bike rack on the corner of John Islip St and Atterbury Street, on the corner of the Gallery premises itself. The bike was double-locked. The frame and back wheel was locked with a high security ‘Bicycle Silver Grade’ Abus ‘D’ lock to the bike rack itself. A second Abus cable lock independently fastened the frame and front wheel to the bike rack. Soon after reporting the bike stolen to the Tate Gallery security staff, and to the Police, I checked the scene of the crime, but found no evidence of paint flakes or broken lock debris.  Tate Security staff  checked their CTV footage of aforesaid corner with the bike rack. I was told they could give me no information as to whether any thing had been seen, until I had given them a police report CAD number. After successfully reporting the theft to the Police I gave the staff the required CAD number. I was told there had been ‘suspicious activity’, but they were not permitted to show me the CTV or say more due to ‘data protection’. After checking the location again, and taking photos of the rack and the corner, I noticed a long white van that looked like a school minibus, without any markings at all, and with dark-tinted windows  parked at  100 yards or so away on John Islip Street.  As I was photographing the corner, the van pulled away from its parking place and drove off towards Vauxhall Bridge Rd. I only mention this because as it passed the driver tooted his horn, not loudly but, a series of little toots - as if the driver had seen a friend or had a little joke. This is probably coincidence, but I thought I had better mention it.</p>