BMX racer has bespoke bike and gear stolen in Portsmouth in blow to world championship preparations
A young BMX racer has had her bike stolen in Portsmouth in a blow to her preparations for an upcoming world championship.
Annabel Townsend, 19, who is from Wiltshire but is studying in Portsmouth, discovered that her car had been broken into on Friday, February 13. Having parked in the NCP car park next to Portsmouth & Southsea Railway Station, she found the back window had been smashed, with a bike worth thousands of pounds stolen alongside other racing gear.
Her dad, Graham Townsend, who has been appealing for information on Facebook, told The News he is hopeful it will turn up due to its unique specifications.
He said: “I have not heard anything but we are still hopeful. The BMX community is small but tight-knit and it’s such a specialised bike that anybody that uses it will pick up that it has probably been stolen. It’s all fitted perfectly to Annabel and we have spent years getting it to the right specifications for her.”
Having taken up the sport at around ten years old, Annabel has not looked back, travelling around the country to compete in events. Her hard work culminated in a fifth place finish in her age group in last year’s world championships in Copenhagen.
While studying at the University of Portsmouth she spends her time travelling between Gosport and Andover for training. With another World Championship in Brisbane, Australia on the horizon in July, this setback has come as a big blow.
Graham said: “She has been training really hard, she loves training, and this has really thrown her. It has put a spanner in the works.”
Police are calling for anyone with information on the incident to get in contact with them. A Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesperson said: “A pushbike, cycling helmet and bag were stolen from a car parked in a car park on Dugald Drummond Street between 5pm on Thursday, February 12 and 12.30pm on Friday, February 13 .
“Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 44260074888.”