Search is on after ram-raiding thieves steal van load of off-road motorbikes in just four minutes
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Business shutters ram raided -
Thieves inside MJW Specialists -
Motorcycles being taken -
Dealership raided at night -
Front gates being attacked with an angle grinder
A motorcycle business in Derbyshire, owned and run by a British Superbike Crew Chief, has been ram-raided by thieves, with five off-road motorcycles stolen.
MJW Specialists, in Killamarsh, was set up by Mark Woodage, who will be working alongside Joe Talbot at OMG Yamaha in 2025.
The business, which specialises in kids’ off-road and motocross machinery, was targeted at around 9pm on Wednesday February 5, with a Ford Transit used to ram the doors off.
So far, none of the bikes have been recovered, and no arrests made, however Derbyshire Police have confirmed than the van has been found in South Yorkshire, and is now undergoing forensic checks.
“It’s annoying, because they know we’re here now,” Woodage said. “We’re not signed up outside or anything like that, we try to be as discreet as we can, and we’ve probably been six years here without a whisper.”
Motorcycles taken include a KTM enduro, Beta trials bike, and Honda CRF pit bike, with further images and details found on the MJW Facebook page.
“The reason we moved down here is because it’s more secure and a bigger premises, but I think they are going to target you wherever you are,” he continued.
Woodage was alerted to the theft by his alarm system. CCTV later revealed an angle grinder was used to open the outer gates.
“From getting through the main security gates, to ramming the building, and getting five bikes back out the building, into the van and leaving, it was just less than four minutes,” the Crew Chief said.
“It’s a massive setback and it’s annoying to think that someone can just traipse into your building and do the destruction that they did.
- Related: Get into off-road motorcycling
“Then you’ve got to speak to the customer and explain to them, and they have to explain to their child that they can’t race.”
Although no motorcycles have yet been found, Mark added: “Two of the adult bikes had cranks gone, so the engines don’t even turn over. They’re scrap really, unless you know how to pull an engine to bits.”
Anyone with information should contact Derbyshire Police quoting 25000072633.
