Serial bike thief on the run

9:40am Sunday 16th September 2007

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A serial cycle thief who stole bikes from across the south-east's railway network is wanted by police.

The British Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for information on the whereabouts of Daniel Westrop, a labourer from Bromley, who has breached a court order.

"We would appeal to any members of the public who may know of his whereabouts or who may have seen Daniel Westrop travelling the rail system to contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40."

Detective Sergeant Paddy Kerr

The 27-year-old who was sentenced to a five-month suspended jail term for his crimes has failed to report to authorities as part of his supervision order.

Westrop would target a number of stations including Walton-on-Thames and Surbiton sometimes stealing two bikes from the same station in one day.

He is also wanted by the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court after he was arrested and charged by the BTP in July in relation to two counts of burglary at Esher Station's coffee shop last year.

Detective Sergeant Paddy Kerr said: "We would appeal to any members of the public who may know of his whereabouts or who may have seen Daniel Westrop travelling the rail system to contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40."

Westrop had been sentenced to a suspended jail terms, a 12-month supervision order, 100 hours of community service and ordered to repay his 102 victims a total of £3,000 in compensation.

He was also handed an Asbo banning him from travelling on the South West Trains network.

At the time of his sentencing detectives from the BTP had expressed their disappointment that Westrop had not been jailed.