A round-the-world motorcyclist has blasted British police after his bike was stolen in the UK.
Yogesh Alekari was 15,000 miles into his motorbike journey from Mumbai to Cape Town when thieves made off with his KTM 390 Adventure bike last Thursday.
The 33-year-old from India said the theft left him ‘heartbroken’ and blamed police for failing to keep the UK’s streets safe, adding he felt safer in Mumbai.
Mr Alekari parked his vehicle in Wollaton Park, Nottingham at around 11am but, when he returned less than an hour later, it was gone.
In an Instagram post on Monday, he said: ‘UK police failed to control theft crimes in this country.
‘India is the safest place to travel. We never ever lock our wheels in India, that’s the success of our police system.’
Video footage captured by a visitor to the park showed his motorcycle being ridden away, with mopeds on either side.
The blogger has been documenting his journey online and took to social media to share his sadness following the theft.
‘I’m the victim – I got everything stolen and it was a fully loaded bike,’ Yogesh said in a video posted to Instagram.
Yogesh Alekari was 15,000 miles into his motorbike journey from Mumbai to Cape Town, when thieves made off with his KTM 390 Adventure bike last Thursday
The 33-year-old from India said the theft left him ‘heartbroken’ and blamed police for failing to keep the UK’s streets safe, adding he felt safer in Mumbai
Mr Alekari parked his vehicle in Wollaton Park, Nottingham at around 11am, but when he returned less than an hour later, it was gone. He said his round-the-world challenge is on hold until he finds his bike and belongings
‘I was heading towards a biking event in Oxford and I parked it in Wollatron Park – it was supposed to be the safest parking.
‘I went across the road and to the restaurant. I had breakfast and then I came to the parking lot – it was an organised crime.
‘They are not scared about the police and I got shocked – I’m totally depressed and panicked at this moment.
‘It’s not a bike – it’s my passion. It was dream, my soul’.
Most of Mr Alekari’s belongings were left with the bike, meaning he’s been left stranded in Nottingham and is currently unable to continue his adventure.
The travel blogger, who has an audience of almost 200,000 online, estimated the value of the stolen belongings at more than £15,000.
He said the storage boxes on his bike included his MacBook laptop, a spare mobile phone, two cameras, cash and other items, including his passport and clothing.
The blogger said he called the police shortly after his bike was stolen but was told officers were unable to attend the park, which is run by Nottingham city council.
‘I called the police and it seemed so strange that they just sent me a crime number,’ he told the BBC. ‘I was told they would call me back, and I waited in the park, but they never did.’
Mr Alekari – who has travelled 15,000 miles through 17 countries over the past four months – said his round-the-world challenge is on hold until he finds his bike and belongings.
This trip he rode from Mumbai to London via northern Europe and was planning to travel along the African coast to Cape Town.
Mr Alekari has previously safely ridden his bike through Nepal, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Finland and Norway.
Nottinghamshire Police has appealed to anyone who may have information on the bike’s whereabouts following Mr Alekari’s plea for help.
The force says it has been trying to locate the black, white and orange bike since it was reported stolen, and that officers have been conducting local inquiries in the community.
But, they have so far been unable to find the bike.
PC Andy Smith said: ‘When you consider the victim’s story and how far he travelled, I can only imagine how distressing it was for him to find his motorbike and belongings had been stolen.
‘Our policing teams have been following multiple lines of inquiry since this happened and hope sharing an image of the bike in this appeal will help us locate it quicker.
‘Anyone who recognises the motorbike, saw this theft happen, or has any other information that could assist our investigation is asked to please get in touch with us, so that we can take action.’
Sergeant Daniel Sheasby added: ‘Our policing teams have been conducting local inquiries in the community since last Thursday but have unfortunately not yet been able to locate the bike.
‘We completely appreciate how much upset this will have caused to the bike owner but want to assure him the police are taking this seriously and are doing everything we can to try and return his property to him.
‘On that note, we’d ask anyone who was at Wollaton Park around that time and spotted anything suspicious to please report it to us.’
Nationally, more than 365,000 bike thefts reported to police have gone unsolved since 2019 – equating to 89 per cent of all cases, according to Home Office data released.
Just 3 per cent of reported bike thefts in the past five years have resulted in a charge or summons.
