Bike thief foiled by onlookers at a Gold Coast cycling event
A man has been charged with stealing after allegedly taking a bike from the starting line of a charity event on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Riders were gathered at Surfers Paradise for the Oceanway Ride cycling event and listening to the national anthem before the race started when a man raced from the starting line shouting “I win, I win”.
An alleged bike thief arrested after interrupting the Ocean Way Ride.
Photo: 7 NewsSomeone quickly realised what was going on and shouted “that bike’s stolen” while another man yelled, “stop him”.
Video footage shows people chasing the man down the road and then onto the path, with one man throwing a drink in the cyclist’s face.
The man did not get far - after a short chase, he was tackled to the ground by onlookers.
Lachlan Boyle, one of the men who ended the pursuit, told 7 News the man even congratulated them on their tackle.
The man jumped the starting line of the Oceanway Ride while riders listened to the national anthem.
Photo: 7 News“A few of us jumped in front of him as he was coming towards us, and we got him off the bike and got it back to the other person,” he said.
“He actually said, ‘yeah good tackle guys, well done’.”
Police then arrested the man, who could be heard in the video asking them “What am I getting arrested for?"
A 28-year-old Palm Beach man was charged with stealing and was due to appear in court on September 22, a police spokesman said.
The Oceanway Ride is a 55km and 102km event going from Surfers Paradise to Point Danger and back which raised money the Mates4Mates charity which supports wounded ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force.