A MOPED driver was rapidly reunited with her stolen ride as police made light work of a thief yesterday.
Police were called in the early hours of Sunday morning by a woman in her 30s whose moped had been stolen from outside a shop in London Road, West Croydon.
But eagle-eyed officers PC Matt Heathcote and PC Stuart Graham coincidentally spotted the black Piaggio Zip moped with two helmetless riders in Roman Way at the same time and signalled for them to pull over.
When the moped carried on down the road, the officers chased the moped to Lower Coombe Street, where the two riders made off on foot towards South End.
They managed to stop a 16-year-old boy and arrested him on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and failing to stop for police.
The passenger has not been found but the moped has since been returned to the owner.
The 16-year-old boy has since been bailed to attend the Croydon Youth Offending Team.
DC Louis Murphy, of Croydon CID, said: "Thanks to the excellent work of the Response Team PCs Matt Heathcote and Stuart Graham, who spotted the moped, we've managed to recover the vehicle and return it to the owner, who was extremely pleased to get her moped back.
"This case really shows the value of contacting police as soon as possible to report a crime - particularly if you have something stolen. The sooner you can report it to police, the more chance we have of locating, identifying and arresting any suspects involved."
