Scooter hijacker who launched 'shocking' hammer attack 'shunted' by driver after chase in west London

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Police are looking for two suspects after a man was reportedly subjected to a “shocking” hammer attack before his scooter was hijacked by thieves.

In mobile phone footage recorded shortly after the incident in west London on Friday morning, the apparent victim is seen standing next to a black helmet, which has a hole punched in the side with a hammer broken off at the handle sticking out of it.

The man recording the scene – who apparently witnessed the incident – says the victim, who was unharmed, was “hammered” in a “fresh hijacking” near the Hayes by-pass in Hillingdon.

“We chased him, and I smashed my car onto the guy’s bike. So we’ve got his bike,” the driver says. The video shows a black and white scooter lying in the road next to a black Mercedes.

The footage was posted on Twitter by @MotorcycleTheft, an account dedicated to helping retrieve stolen bikes and scooters.

“Shocking video of a high jacking where a thief smashes the victim’s head with a hammer getting it stuck in his helmet,” the account tweeted.

“A driver passing by helped the victim chasing the thief stopping him by ‘tactical contact’.”

Asked whether the public had a right to make "tactical contact" with a bike thief, the Metropolitan Police told The Independent: "This is clearly not something members of the public could claim to use."

Officers said a male suspect, who had initially driven away alongside another man on a second moped, fell off his scooter while being chased by a member of the public before fleeing on the back of his assailant’s vehicle.

The second moped was subsequently recovered and was also found to be stolen, the Met said.

There have been no arrests. Any witnesses or anyone with any information about the robbery is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD 2885/17May or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.