Man looking for penny farthing stolen from Streatham – South London News

VaselineJune 5, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Man looking for penny farthing stolen from Streatham – South London News

A man is searching for his beloved penny farthing after it was snatched outside a hair salon on Monday afternoon.

Robert Torto, 44, of Harlesden Road, Willesden, is appealing to the public to help him find his 56in Trotts and Son penny farthing with a red rear tire after it was stolen in Streatham Hill Road around 1pm.

The civil engineer said: “I took my bike down to the same hairdressing salon I’ve been going to since 2007 but it must not have been secured to the bike rack properly enough.

“I had my eye on him the whole time I was in the salon, but I got up to wash my hair and the next second he was gone.”

Today, Mr Torto is speaking to Stretham residents and shop owners in a desperate plea to find his bike.

*CCTV footage from a local pharmacy shows a man walking around Streatham with a penny moments after Mr of Torto was stolen (Image: Robert Torto)*

He said: “I immediately reported it to the police but I called last night and they still haven’t allocated an officer to the case.

“I have already spoken to so many people who have seen the man on my bike – I have received CCTV footage from a local pharmacy which shows the man riding it down the road.

“I don’t want him to get in trouble, but I just want the bike back.”

Yesterday, the BBC’s Jeremy Vine, a fellow cycling enthusiast, alerted his X followers to the missing bike, tweeting: “Important to get this back. The red tire on the back will make fencing difficult.”

*Robert Tortoise and his bike with the distinctive red rear tire (Image: Danny Jackson)*

Mr Torto, whose engineering specialty is sustainable travel, has designed some of the key cycle routes that run through London.

He bought the distinctive penny-farthing last year after being inspired by other traditional riders at London’s iconic Tweed Run cycle ride.

The father-of-four said: “I ride it every day, this bike means everything to me.

“I did it from London to Brighton, I did it from Newhaven to London. It’s part of my identity, people identify me with the bike.”

Mr Torto said he hoped to find his bike soon so he could take part in the Guinness World Record attempt for the largest gathering of Penny-Farthing riders since the 1880s at the Herne Hill Olympic Velodrome in October.

The Met Police have been approached for comment.

Pictured above: Robert Torto and his penny farthing (Image: Robert Torto)

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