Kind hearts step in to help after Shrewsbury mum's bike is stolen
The police and a generous bike shop owner have combined to help a Shrewsbury mother who was targeted by thieves.
Megan McMinn uses her bike every day to take her two young children to play-school and to get to work.
However, thieves stole the bike from the care home she works at in Monkmoor, leaving her facing the problem of paying others to provide lifts and childcare.
As a result Shrewsbury Police Community Support Officer Maria Chattington-Lowe applied to the West Mercia Police Community Fund for an old bike to do up or money for a new one.
Police officers can apply to the fund to help some victims of crime who are suffering hardship as a result.
The funds come from the sale of property seized by the police and contributions from officers, staff, and the public.
The fund paid for the bike and Phil Roe from Urban Bikes UK in Shrewsbury's Market Hall also offered to provide a bike seat for Mrs McMinn's two children.
Ms Chattington-Lowe said she hoped the incident would make people think about the real-world impact of their crimes.
Difficult
She said: "I just want to show people that if you steal things you have an impact on people's lives. It can be a matter of them keeping or losing their job if they cannot get to and from work.
"If they are having to pay for child care or getting a taxi there is a cost and it is about trying to make people think that for a five-minute theft of something they then just throw in the river that it can be a hugely important part of someone's life."
She explained that the theft had left Mrs McMinn in very difficult position.
She said: "Because of the hardship it caused she was having to get lifts to work, pay petrol money, or get the children looked for extra time.
"Because of that I wrote to the police fund and asked if they could assist with a donation or a bike we could do up for her, but they decided to donate £200.
"Phil has also very kindly donated the bike seat, knowing the hardship she has been through."
