Police in Taunton are appealing to the public for assistance in identifying two individuals caught on CCTV amid a motorbike theft but have faced criticism over the poor quality of the footage released.
West Somerset and Taunton Neighbourhood Policing shared a still image from CCTV on their Facebook page, requesting help to “identify the individuals in this CCTV image in relation to the theft of a motorbike in Taunton.” The theft occurred between 11pm on Saturday, February 21, and 5:15am the following day at an address in Showell Park, Staplegrove.
The stolen vehicle, a red and black Lexmoto motorcycle, was later found nearby on Milton Road along with its cover. Avon and Somerset Constabulary confirmed that both suspects are males estimated to be between 16 and 20 years old. The first male is described as wearing a face covering, black jogging bottoms with a white logo on the left thigh, a grey hooded jumper, and a black jacket. No detailed information is yet available on the second individual.
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Police say they have conducted extensive inquiries, including CCTV and house-to-house investigations, and are maintaining contact with the victim. They urge anyone with information, or relevant dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from the time of the incident, to come forward.
However, the appeal has been met with skepticism and humor online due to the blurry and pixelated nature of the CCTV image. Several members of the public questioned the usefulness of the image for identification purposes. One commented, “We can’t even identify that there’s a person there, let alone who it is.” Another joked that the shadowy figure resembled “Bruce Wayne in his standard disguise,” while others humorously asked if the individuals are even visible in the photo at all.
Despite the jokes and criticism, police continue their investigation, hopeful that someone will recognize the suspects and help bring them to justice.