Gone in 30 minutes

Blane Biggs, distraught after the theft of his Christmas present

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Thief steals Blane’s £300 Christmas bike as he pops in for a burger

A boy’s dream Christmas present was stolen within hours of unwrapping it when he popped out for a burger.

Blane Biggs (12) had only ridden his distinctive BMX GT Performer for 30 minutes before it was taken from outside a McDonald’s takeaway.

His single mum, Zoe Clegg, had saved all year to buy the £300 all-white model, with purple handlebars, as a surprise.

But when Blane went out on Boxing Day to get a burger at the Elk Mill retail park around 3.30pm, he left it propped against a wall outside.

And mum-of-four Zoe believes a sneak thief who knew the value of the bike whisked it away.

Zoe, of Brackenwood Close, Royton, said: “I don’t suppose we’ll find it, but we have been round all the local parks and been to the BMX park in Shaw.

“We have asked the children if they have seen it and we have offered £100 for anyone who finds it or knows anyone who has it.

“Blane’s had bikes before but never one as expensive as that. I’d always told him it was too dear, but I saved all year for it and it was specially made at Ridelow in Church Street, Manchester.

“Blane thought it was absolutely fantastic but he’s gutted now.”

North Chadderton School pupil Blane unwrapped his present and had a short ride on it, before going to his dad’s house in Hathershaw, until Boxing Day.

Zoe added: “He said he was only in McDonald’s for a couple of minutes, there was no-one in it.

“As soon as he realised it had gone he called police on his mobile, and I called them when he came home.

“He wanted to have it stamped with his post code for security but couldn’t get it done until after Christmas.”

Last night the smile was back on Blane’s face after generous bosses at Ridelow offered Zoe a third off the price of a replacement bike.

Zoe said: “When they heard what had happened they offered a discount which is very good of them. I could not let him be without his Christmas present.”