Dundee man Taijon Merchant has been left stranded after a group of teenagers stole his motorbike from outside his home.
His bike was discovered at the weekend, three days after being taken, but is completely wrecked.
Taijon says that in the meantime he has seen footage of his motorbike being driver around Dundee before eventually being dumped in the Fintry area of the city, not far from his home.
Taijon, 46, a machinist, said he had got his bike ready to go to work last Wednesday.
He popped back into his house on Honeygreen Road and when he came back out his bike had gone.
Taijon said: “I couldn’t believe it. I only went into the house for a few minutes and when I came out my back had been taken.
“I reported this to the police immediately and started asking around if anyone had seen what had happened.”
Caught on CCTV
Taijon said that he was able to find CCTV footage which shows three youths taking it.
He said: “The footage clearly shows them taking my bike.
“One was wearing a grey hoodie and the other two were on motorbikes themselves.
“They headed off in the direction of Fountainbleau Drive.”
He added: “I have since seen footage on TikTok of my bike being ridden around Dundee.
“I know who these teenagers are and I believe so do the police.
“They seem to think they can do anything they like and get away with it.
“It’s absolutely disgusting.”
Taijon said he was contacted by the police on Saturday night to tell him his bike had been recovered.
He said: “It was reported by someone to be under cover on a footpath up in the Fintry in the Cheviot Rise Grampian Gardens area.
Badly damaged
“I’ve been to see it now and it’s pretty badly damaged. I genuinely think it’s going to be a write-off but I’ll need to speak to my insurance company.”
Taijon said that since his bike was stolen he has struggled to get to work.
He added: “The bike is my main means of transport and I use it for getting around everywhere.
“This has also caused my insurance premium to double so not only have I lost my £3,000 bike but it’s going to cost me more in insurance and I don’t even know yet how I’m going to replace my bike.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A motorbike matching the description of the one stolen has been recovered.
“Inquiries are ongoing to establish whether it is the same motorbike.”
