Last week a number of bikes were stolen from around Bellingen township, particularly Coronation and West Streets. They included a red and black Giant Talon 3 Mountain Bike and a blue Flight BMX. These bikes mean a great deal to their nine-year-old owners who are understandably devastated that this has happened.
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My son spent countless hours researching and comparing different brands and models, memorising all the specs, saving up his contribution, and practising his skills. He is passionate about bike riding and has even spoken to the mayor about establishing a downhill mountain bike park in the shire.
None of the bikes have been found thus far although I am still hopeful that they will be returned. There is a reward of $100 for the Giant bike.
The police know who stole the BMX but investigations are continuing regarding the Giant mountain bike. The boy who stole the BMX initially said he threw the bike in the river and then when challenged, he said he left it at the bus stop and it was gone when he went back to get it. Other teenagers have suggested the bikes were hidden in the bushes and then taken somewhere at a later time.
I am not into naming and shaming young people, I believe in giving people an opportunity to make things right but also being held accountable. If people do not want to own up directly, they are encouraged to take the bikes to the Youth Hub and/or talk to Dean.
As a community I think we all have a part in raising great young people – and sometimes this means confronting and standing up to bad behaviour. I am concerned about reports of an attempted break in at Belmech, of bottles of spirits being stolen from the Providore and of really young kids drinking alcohol but even more concerning is an attitude that they can get away with it because they know when there’s no police around and that even if the police are called, it will take a certain amount of time for them to arrive.
As I said, I’m still hopeful the bikes will return but there is also the broader conversation about how we as a community, including the Hub and local police, work together to raise the kind of kids we can be proud of.
Emma Belcher
Bellingen