Glasgow family bikes stolen in North Berwick holiday shock
Source: glasgowtimes.co.uk
TL;DR
- Bikes Stolen: Glasgow family's children's bikes and scooter taken from car outside North Berwick holiday let.
- Police Delay: Carla Ashby told police would call back days later, unlike quick Glasgow response.
- Community Aid: Locals helped recover one bike after online post, overwhelming family with kindness.
The story at a glance
A Glasgow family on holiday in North Berwick had three children's mountain bikes and a scooter stolen from their car overnight. Carla Ashby criticised the slow police response compared to Glasgow, but praised helpful locals who recovered one bike. The story is reported now as Police Scotland enquiries continue, highlighting contrasts in perceived safety between city and seaside town.
Key points
- Family from Glasgow West End, including children Maria (13), Ruby (10), Sean (9), and Patrick (6), stayed four nights on Victoria Road as a rare treat.
- Theft discovered Tuesday morning by husband Colin, owner of bookshop Voltaire & Rousseau, when car door found open.
- Items stored in car overnight; family usually leaves gear out at campsites without issue.
- Police said callback in days; no local station after closure, patrol car ignored flag-down attempt.
- One bike found abandoned at Lodge Grounds; resident stored it, another offered Glasgow delivery.
- Family enjoyed Bass Rock boat trip despite theft.
- Incident made them more cautious but they may return.
Details and context
Carla Ashby, a teacher, expected safety in "quaint seaside town" North Berwick, contrasting it with Glasgow where they leave items in cars without theft.
She described North Berwick feeling like a "lawless society" without police presence, suggesting kids need activities to channel energy away from crime.
Locals reacted positively to her online post about the theft, showing community upset over incident in their town.
Police Scotland confirmed enquiries ongoing; family reported it upon return home.
Key quotes
- “We live in Glasgow - we leave things in the car all the time and nothing gets stolen. You don’t expect it in what looks like a fancy little quaint seaside town.” – Carla Ashby
- “We were quite overwhelmed by people’s kindness. Everybody was really, really nice and I think people are very upset about that kind of thing happening in their town.” – Carla Ashby
Why it matters
The theft underscores safety perceptions in tourist spots versus cities, affecting family holidays. Readers planning UK trips learn to secure vehicles even in quaint areas, while locals see calls for better youth policing. Watch Police Scotland's enquiry outcome, though recovery chances remain uncertain.
FAQ
Q: What exactly was stolen from the Glasgow family in North Berwick?
A: Three children’s mountain bikes and a scooter, which had been a Christmas present, were taken from their car overnight outside the holiday let on Victoria Road. The family discovered the theft Tuesday morning when husband Colin saw the car door open. One bike was later found abandoned at Lodge Grounds.
Q: How did North Berwick police respond to the theft report?
A: Carla Ashby was told she would get a callback several days later, by which time the family would be home in Glasgow. There is no local police station after its closure, and a patrol car did not stop when flagged down. She contrasted this with Glasgow's 10-minute response time.
Q: What help did locals provide after the online post?
A: Residents were overwhelmed with kindness; one stored the recovered bike at Lodge Grounds, and another promised to deliver it to Glasgow on their next trip. Carla said people were very upset about thefts in their town. This touched the family despite the incident.
Q: Will the family return to North Berwick?
A: They have not ruled it out, calling the house amazing and town lovely despite the theft by "a few kids." It made them more cautious overall, as they've never had items stolen from their car before. Carla suggested more activities for kids during holidays.