That’s a wheelie big theft! Suspected bike thief wheels away penny farthing – as desperate owner begs for its safe return
A man has made a desperate appeal for his prized penny after it was stolen from outside a hair salon London.
Robert Torto, 44, was getting his hair cut when his Trotts and Son’s penny was stolen from a bike rack in Streatham Hill at around 1pm on June 3.
CCTV footage from a nearby pharmacy showed the suspected thief turning the penny away from the scene.
The eccentric means of transport is 160 cm high and has a striking red rear tire.
The heartbroken civil engineer told London News Online: ‘I cycled to the same hair salon I’ve been going to since 2007 but probably didn’t secure it securely enough to the bike rack.
CCTV footage from a nearby pharmacy showed the suspected thief turning the penny away from the scene
Robert Torto (pictured) was having his hair cut when his Trotts and Son’s penny was stolen from a bike rack in Streatham Hill
“I had my eyes on it the whole time I was in the salon, but I got up to wash my hair and the next minute it was gone.”
Mr Torto added: ‘I reported it to the police straight away, but I called last night and they had not yet assigned an officer to the case.
‘I have already spoken to so many people who have seen the man with my bicycle.
‘I have CCTV footage from a local pharmacy showing the man walking down the street with it.
“I don’t want him to get into trouble, but I just want my bike back.”
Fellow cyclist Jeremy Vine used social media to raise awareness about the missing penny.
In a message on X, formerly Twitter, the presenter said: ‘Important that we get this back. A red rear tire makes it difficult to fence.’
Mr. Vine has fallen on his own dime before, leaving him with a black eye.
He told his TV program that he had ‘been in the war’ and could not remember anything between the time he fell and his arrival at Charing Cross hospital.
Mr. Torto’s stolen penny is 150 centimeters long and has a distinctive red back tire
Speaking about the suspected thief, Mr Torto said: ‘I don’t want him to get in trouble but I just want my bike back’
Fellow cyclist Jeremy Vine used social media to raise awareness about the missing penny
Mr Torto specializes in sustainable travel and has designed several major cycle routes through London.
His beloved penny was only purchased last year and the father-of-four hopes to find it before October so he can take part in a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest number of penny riders in a velodrome race.
As part of the Penny Farthing Guinness World Record Breaking Weekend Extravaganza, organized by the Penny Farthing Club, participants will also sit down to a Victorian dinner party where everyone is expected to wear top hats.
