Have a go hero foils bike raiders
A HAVE a go hero stepped in after he saw a thief nick a bike outside a restaurant.
Drew Cowan had gone to the McDonald's at Burnbrae recently with pals after playing football at the Allander Leisure centre.
They parked their bikes outside, but as they sat down, they noticed two men lifting Drew's mountain bike and running off with it.
The 15-year-old from Bearsden raised the alarm but thought the thieves had got away as they ran down Milngavie Road in the direction of Hillfoot.
However, that's when selfless Craig Lyle stepped in. Craig (33) was in the restaurant with his wife when he heard Drew call for help.
Straight away he ran to his car parked out the back and gave chase
to the men. The thieves separated, but Craig kept on the tail of the one with the bike.
He watched as he got off the bike and pushed it up the steep hill at Manse Road before he got out of his car and confronted him.
The thief then turned tail and cycled back down the hill, but Craig continued his dogged pursuit, eventually managing to corner him near Hillfoot train station.
Police had been called by this point and they arrested the man and Craig was able to retrieve the bike.
He even took a wheel off it so he could get it into his car's boot before returning it to an astonished Drew.
Craig, who lives in Old Kilpatrick, said: "It's not the kind of thing I do every day to be honest, but I didn't really think about it. Maybe it's because I'm a mountain biker myself I was only too glad to step in.
"I wasn't scared, I was just annoyed this had happened. I'm just glad that Drew has his bike back."
Drew's mum Marianne said that the Bearsden Academy pupil is "overjoyed" at getting his bike back. She said: "I can't thank Craig and everyone else who helped Drew enough.
"It really bolsters your faith in human nature. He's a real hero."
A spokesman for McDonald's said: "We would like to say a big thank you to Craig and the other customers who were there that day who helped out. A big well done is in order."
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Weather for Milngavie
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 1 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 5 C
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