Passers-by step in to stop brazen bike thieves

This is the dramatic moment a group of thieves were stopped by passers-by as they tried to steal bikes from a busy park in London.

Footage shows two men and a woman standing in front of a bike to stop one of the thieves, who is wearing a hood and face mask, as he tries to pull the bike away from metal railings in Victoria Park, east London, yesterday.

The thief pulls at the bike once again as one of the men stops him and shocked onlookers stare in disbelief. 

The thieves had cut through the locks with an angle-grinder before attempting to make away with the bikes at around 3pm, according to a witness. 

Passers-by hold onto the bike frame as one of the thieves tries to pull it away from the metal rail in Victoria Park, east London, at around 3pm yesterday

The thief continues to pull at the bike as members of the public intervene and try to stop him

During the clip, one of the thieves, who is wearing a black jacket and trousers, reaches down to pull the bike towards him before two passers-by attempt to stop him and a woman is heard calling the police. 

As members of the public intervene, two of the thieves leave the park on their bikes. 

Just moments later, another man approaches the thief and tries to keep him and another person, who appears to be his accomplice, at the scene as he tries to flee and people in the crowd shout: ‘Get back!’ 

A group of onlookers are able to catch the thief and a scuffle ensues as they pull him to the ground. 

He then manages to free himself with the help of his accomplice and flees the scene. 

According to the witness, the group of would-be thieves did not steal the bikes.     

One member of the public approaches one of the thieves as he stands with his accomplice as shocked onlookers stare in disbelief

As members of the public intervene, two of the thieves leave the park on their bikes

Members of the public chase one of the thieves through the park and a scuffle ensues

They said: ‘When I looked over and saw the sparks flying, I thought no they can’t be stealing these bikes in broad daylight with so many people around. It was a difficult one. 

‘So many people wanted to get involved but when someone has an angle grinder you have to take a step back.’     

MailOnline has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.  

Following the scenes, horrified social media users applauded the passers-by for intervening.

One user wrote: ‘Incredible how brazen they are. I can’t think of a more public place to lock up a bike.’

While another added: ‘Good on that man stopping them.’

Meanwhile another person commented: ‘I’m impressed that just one person tried to stop them.’