Police step up patrols after spate of e-bike thefts in Burnley and Hapton using violence and force

Over the past two months four incidents have been reported to police, where e-bikes have been taken from areas in Burnley, Hapton and Rossendale.

The first happened on Brownside Road in Burnley at 1.24pm on November 27 when a Volkswagen Passat was used to knock the victim off his e-bike, before the suspects stole it.

In Reed Street, Burnley, just before midnight on Friday, three men have forced their way into a property and thrown a wooden plank at the victim before leaving with a Suron e-bike and three battery packs. At 10.27pm yesterday (Saturday) a white van attempted to knock the rider off his e-bike at the junction of Burnley Road and Manchester Road in Hapton. Another incident happened in Rawtenstall earlier in January.

A spokesman for Burnley police said: “These incidents are not being treated as linked at this stage, though we are keeping an open mind.

“While no arrests have been made at this stage, enquiries are being carried out by dedicated teams of investigators to identify and detain those involved. As those enquiries are ongoing, we would ask e-bike riders to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity they see to the police straight away.

"We would also ask people to ensure their e-bikes are left in a secure place at all times when not in use, and not left on visible display.”

Anyone with any information or footage relating to any of the incidents outlined above is asked to call 101 and quote log 1345 of 24th January 2026.