A MAN has pleaded guilty to stealing bicycles and e-scooters in Harlow town centre after a spate of thefts.

Jamie Pollard, 22, of Victoria Road, South Woodford, E18, was caught by officers from Harlow Neighbourhood Policing Team after a foot chase on the evening of Friday 17 October.

Pollard had been spotted acting suspiciously near the Water Gardens, and matched the description of a man officers were looking for in relation to bicycle and e-scooter thefts dating back to May.

He was seen running away from the town centre towards Fourth Avenue and was tracked down by officers and arrested near Holdings Road. He was found to be in possession of wire cutters.

Appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, Pollard pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft of a pedal bike, two e-scooter thefts, and going equipped to steal.

He will be sentenced on 24 November and was bailed with conditions not to enter Harlow.

Sergeant Allen Kittles of Harlow NPT said:

“There was a rise in bike and e-scooter thefts in the town centre and we had built up a substantial amount of evidence linking this individual to several offences.

“The team were on the scene quickly after he was spotted, and it was satisfying to track him down and arrest him.

“We’d been patrolling both in uniform and plain clothes in the areas where there are bike racks and we work closely with the local security teams and CCTV operators.

“This is the third arrest we’ve made related to bike and e-scooter theft in the last couple of weeks but there are still other suspects we are working to identify.

“It is illegal to ride an e-scooter anywhere bar private land in Harlow, but cycling is a key mode of transport in the town. To keep your bike safe, I’d appeal to all owners to invest in a D-lock and only leave your bike in areas that are well-lit and covered by CCTV.”