Prolific bike thief banged up
18-year-old posted videos of his crimes on social media
‘Ancel was a key part of a criminal group’ PC KEVIN WEBB, AVON & SOMERSET
Teenage thief Tyreece Ancel has been sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting a total of 33 offences including burglary and theft of a motor vehicle. Ancel took a significant number of motorbikes and cars across Bristol between 2016 and 2019, often filming himself in the process. He was arrested in June on suspicion of the theft of a motorbike before police also found video evidence which showed him committing a number of the offences he was charged with. A representative from Stolen Motorcycle Recovery Bristol, a volunteer organisation who work to help the victims of bike crime in the area, told MCN that Ancel’s imprisonment is likely to lead to a drop in bike crime in the area. “We know 100% that he’s a massive part of the problem we have in south Bristol,” they said. And PC Kevin Webb of Avon and Somerset Police is in no doubt of the significance of the sentence either. “We understand Ancel was a key part of a criminal group responsible for many of these crimes,” he said.
“Our message to his associates or anyone considering committing similar offences is clear: this will not be tolerated and we will use all resources available to us to apprehend criminals.”
Inspector Lorna Dallimore, who leads Avon and Somerset Police’s response to motorcycle theft and its associated anti-social behaviour, added: “The charging and remand of this individual will come as welcome news to the biking communities of Bristol. “We will continue to keep up the pressure on bike thieves, working with the anti-social behaviour team, the youth offending team and the CPS, to ensure that those involved in this type of crime are dealt with in the most appropriate way. “There are a number of things owners can do to keep their bikes secure, including buying antitheft deterrents such as chains, disc locks, immobilisers and ensuring that the bike is always locked to something immovable.” The work of police and groups like Bristol Bike Theft Awareness has led to an impressive 39% reduction in the number of bikes stolen in the area from 770 in the 12 months to April 2018 to 473 for the same period in 2019.