Bike Description
Cannondale Synapse road bike, orange, with disc brakes back and front, lights back and front and chrome metal toe clips on standard pedals (not SPD type). It has a black wire water bottle holder fixed to the frame. Purchased April 2016.Theft Description
I exited my house (1 Grosvenor Place, Bath, BA1 6AX) at 12.45pm on 26th August because I had to collect my car which was undergoing MOT at the garage across the road in Larkhall (3 to 4 mins walk from my house) and they shut for lunch at 1pm. As I came out of my front door I saw a man leave the paved area immediately in front my front door. He was carrying a large bag on his shoulder, very similar to that carried by a paper boy or someone delivering leaflets from door to door. He immediately turned away from me on the pavement and began peering intently (squinting) into a piece of paper so I could not see his face. The only description I can give was that he was probably about 5ft 10 ins to 6ft tall, quite slim, wearing dark jeans and a tee shirt and he had greasy-looking thin grey hair. But he was carrying this distinctive bag. My bike was still locked to the railings at 12.45 when I left the house - I remember seeing it out of the corner of my eye.
At the time I assumed the man was delivering leaflets and thought no more of it. I was intent on getting to the garage to collect my car before it shut (I was planning to put my bike in the back of my car as I was due to take it to Bristol to Evans Cycles where it was booked in for a service). However thinking back, there was no leaflet on my doormat either as I exited then or when I returned to the house about 15 minutes after collecting my car.
I believe the bike was stolen in this 15 minute window from 12.45 to 13.00 yesterday 26th August. I think the behaviour of the man with the bag was suspicious. I am not saying he was definitely involved but am wondering if his behaviour is part of a system employed by 1 or more people who have a system to steal bikes throughout Bath and perhaps other towns/cities.