A SENIOR police officer fears it is just a matter of time before another pedestrian is badly injured by a stolen moped.

Inspector Willie Glasgow, of Swindon police, is concerned that a craze for stealing the bikes could lead to a repeat of an accident earlier this month in Pinehurst.

A grandmother was left lying by the roadside with a broken leg after being hit by a stolen moped. The rider fled the scene.

Now Insp Glasgow, who runs policing in north and west Swindon, is turning up the heat on bike thieves.

Patrols have been stepped up in areas favoured for racing the bikes, like the Seven Fields Nature Reserve, in Penhill, and the Moulden Hill Country Park, in Taw Hill.

The police helicopter has been scrambled on several occasions to guide officers on the ground.

Youths on mopeds have also been stopped and questioned in the street.

Police began targeting the problem after receiving 19 reports of mopeds being stolen in just two weeks.

As a result, four youths aged between 14 and 18 have been arrested.

But Insp Glasgow is not just targeting bike thieves.

He said: "We have powers under the Police Reform Act 2000 to seize and destroy bikes being used to cause a nuisance and we are prepared to do that.

"Even if you own the bikes legally you cannot ride them on open land causing a nuisance and putting other people in danger.

"We are cracking down on bike thieves and would also urge owners to take extra security precautions.

"They are a danger to themselves and other people, and it is only a matter of time before there is another accident like that in Pinehurst.

"I would urge these young people to think about what they are doing.

"We will go out of our way to prosecute them."

Police are still hunting the moped driver responsible for the crash at junction of Whitworth Road and Crossways Avenue on Tuesday, January 4.

The pensioner was left with one broken leg and a deep gash on the other.

After the smash, the woman's daughter called for the culprit to hand themselves in to the police.

Speaking to the Adver, she said: "My mother is very shaken and she has been reliving the experience over and over wondering what she could have done differently.

"But there is nothing she could have done."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01793 528111.

Tamash Lal