Posted online: Jan 26th, 2010

By Ursula Duddy
Reporter

A seven year old Galliagh boy is heartbroken after the new bike he got for Christmas has been stolen for the second year in a row.
Caroline McClintock said her son, Caoimhin, had not even had the chance to enjoy his new bike before it was stolen.
“It was kept in the house all over Christmas because of the weather conditions,” she said.
“Caoimhin had just called round to his friend’s house on Sunday and his mother brought him in for a few minutes; when he went back outside the bike was gone.
“He had only been on it four times – he’s totally devastated.”
Ms McClintock said her son had been the victim of bike thieves before.
“This is the second time this has happened to him and I’m so angry,” she said.
“He got a new bike last Christmas but that was stolen in the summer.”
The family have been making every effort to recover the green and black framed 22” Kawasaki BMX.
“We have put signs up in all the shops and have been searching Moss Park and all over Galliagh,” she said.
“Surely some mother would notice if her son or daughter is running around on a new bike or somebody knows who’s going round stealing bikes.”
Ms McClintock said young Caoimhin will not give up looking for his treasured Christmas present.
“Him and his wee friends were even out in the rain looking for it,” she said.
“He’s just gutted as he never even expected to get another new bike after the first one was stolen.
“It was all he wanted from Santa.”
The theft comes after a similar incident 11-year-old boy from Carnhill also had his bike stolen from his garden when he went indoors for a matter of minutes.
A spokesperson from the PSNI has urged parents to tell their children to be vigilant for ‘opportunistic’ bike thieves.
Anyone with any information on the stolen bike should contact the PSNI on 0845 600 8000 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.