St Albans carer 'devastated' after train station bike theft

Sarmad Bukhari was 'heartbroken' when the bicycle was swiped at St Albans station yesterday morning (August 28).

He relies on the bike as his only mode of transport to and from work, where he cares for people with dementia.

Sarmad explains: "Being able to reach people reliably is so important to me and now that the bike has been stolen I'm devastated.

"It’s not just a loss of a bike, it’s a loss of something I cared for and depended on every day."

As well as being vital to his work and travel, the bike carries sentimental value to Sarmad, having become something of a passion project for him.

Sarmad relies on the bike as his only mode of transport. (Image: Sarmad Bukhari)

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He said: "I bought this bike when it was on the verge of being thrown away, and I decided to give it a second chance.

"I recycled it completely, putting in hours of work to change the tires, brake pads, and handlebars myself.

"I’ve always believed in recycling and giving things a new life, and this bike became a project I was deeply invested in."

He added: "My bike wasn’t just my only mode of transport, it was something I put a lot of effort into building.

"Every part of it was carefully chosen and assembled, and it really meant the world to me."

Earlier this year, Hertfordshire police released data showing that more than 1,000 bikes were stolen across the county in 2023.

At the time, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "Officers work hard to tackle bike thefts across the county and if you believe your bike has been stolen then please report this to us online via herts.police.uk/report or by calling 101."

A 2023 study also found that St Albans City Station has the most stolen bikes in the UK of any station outside of London.

Sarmad has urged anyone who sees the bike to get in touch via Facebook.

He has also reported the incident to the police.