A TEENAGER has been arrested following a number of "violent and terrifying" electric bike thefts in Birkenhead.

Merseyside Police said that at around 2.10pm on Sunday (July 7) it was reported that a man was seen being chased on Hoylake Road by two men on a motorbike and a man on a sur-ron electric moped, carrying a knife, near to the junction of St James Church and Tollemache Road.

Dashcam footage also showed the man being chased into a garden on Hoylake Road. The male then left the area in a blue Ford vehicle.

At around 2.15pm police received a report of a robbery on Ashburton Road at the other end of Tollemache Road.

It was reported that two teenage boys who were riding a black and red GTE Pantera electric bike were approached by two men on a black sur-ron electric bike and another male on a black and red motorbike.

One of the men tried to take the bike and then punched the teenage boy in the face. He pulled out a machete and threatened the boy before one of the other men stole the bike and escaped. 

Just after 8pm police received a third report that around one hour earlier a man had been approached in Birkenhead Town Centre by three males on a moped and an electric bike who stole his Cube Hybrid bike and threatened him with a machete.

An investigation is underway and after carrying out initial CCTV enquiries in the area officers have arrested an 18-year-old boy from Ford Way, Upton, on suspicion of robbery.

He was also arrested for numerous driving offences and assaulting an emergency worker.

Detective Inspector Sarah Wilkinson said: "These were violent and terrifying attacks in our community which left three victims fearing for their own safety.

"Although we have made an arrest we are still searching for the other suspects and believe there have been further incidents involving this group, which may have gone unreported. Therefore we are appealing to anyone who may have seen the three males on Sunday, July 7 to contact us.

"If you were on Hoylake Road, James Church or in Birkenhead town centre and saw the three suspects on their bikes on Sunday during the time of these incidents please contact us.

“Our officers will immediately respond to any incidents involving knife crime and are committed in removing anyone who stores, carries and uses weapons through proactive use of stop and search powers, open land searches, warrants and education work alongside partners.

“Our local officers are also providing an increased police presence in the area including officers in plain clothes on e-bikes.

“We will continue to seek out those involved in knife crime, who carry weapons or are involved in gangs, but we also need your support.

“Information from our community is vital if we are to stop such violent crimes that causes fear in our communities.

“If you have any further information about these incidents, please contact our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook using reference 24000594795."