Thugs attack motorcyclist in attempted robbery stopped by helpers

A violent moped gang who were trying to steal another motorbike were foiled by courageous have-a-go heroes who wrestled the thugs to the floor before sending them fleeing.
A man and a woman rushed to the defence of the biker as a would-be thief attempted to ride off on his vehicle in Sutton, south London.
The pair pulled the bike to the ground and pushed the attacker away, causing him to sprint off down the street, while his friends rode off on a moped.
Dramatic footage of the incident was captured by a witness who watched the assault take place from the window of a nearby house.
The short clip starts with a man, wearing red, white and black leathers, trying to shove the thug off his bike - causing the attacker to lash out with a brutal punch.
The woman then tries to help but is shoved away by another member of the gang who had just jumped off the bike.
A man quickly comes to their assistance and forces the attacker to the ground, with the crew then sprinting from the scene and riding away.
Moped crime is becoming a scourge on London's streets with the number of offences rising by 600% in the last two years.
There were 7,668 incidents involving mopeds last year, with 4,647 in 2015 and 1,053 in 2014.
Hot spots for the crimes include Hackney, Islington, Camden and Westminster - with more than 9,900 moped, scooter and motorcycle thefts reported across London over the past year.
Often gangs will target people on their phones are perform drive by muggings, with the Metropolitan Police concerned that teenagers and young children are committing the crimes.
Chief Supt Peter Ayling, in charge of policing in Westminster, said that despite the rise in moped crime rates - officers are not allowed to pursue offenders.
He told the Guardian: 'With bikes there is an increased risk to riders should police pursue. Often they are so reckless in their actions it could expose the public to danger.
'For that reason the tactics are informed by the standard of driving of the suspect, time of day and apparent risk to all involved.'
However, robberies by scooter or motorcycle are a priority concern for the Met and the force has put covert officers on foot and in unmarked cars to help tackle the thieves.