POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man selling a mountain bike was robbed at knifepoint.
The victim, a man in his thirties, was meeting a prospective buyer to the grey Voodoo Bizango, which has an orange trim on the tyres.
He agreed to meet him at the junction of Coventry Road and Cholmeley Road at around 4.55pm on Friday, July 14.
The victim was getting the bike out of the back of his van when the offender threatened him with a kitchen knife. He then stole the bike, and left the scene, heading in the direction of the canal towpath.
The offender is described as a white man, aged between 20 and 30, of an average build and was a few inches shorter than 5 ft 11 in.
He had light, quite short hair and a full beard that was trimmed and looked quite blond.
He was wearing a pair of dirty jeans with mud up the side of one leg, a dark green long sleeve jumper, and was carrying a large, green umbrella.
He had a distinctive tattoo on one of his hands of a blue cross that was roughly one or two inches long and spoke with a local accent.
Investigating officer PC Josh Gillespie, of the Reading Priority Crime Team, said: “We are appealing for any witnesses to this robbery, or anyone with information which could help our investigation, to please come forward.
“To contact us, call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43230312765.
“Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.”
