A 12-year-old boy has had his mountain bike stolen after he was threatened by an older teenager.

The boy was approached in Chase Road, Southend, by a teenager, who he described as black, and between 16 and 17 years old, just before 1pm on Sunday, January 28.

The teenager blocked the victim’s path and asked him if he would swap bikes. The boy refused, but then handed the bike over when the teenager threatened to take his phone as well.

The bike was then ridden away along Riviera Drive, before turning down a side road and onto Southchurch Road. Just after 1pm, it turned left down Southchurch Avenue and was ridden onto the Woodgrange Estate a few minutes later. The suspect was also described as being of skinny build and had facial hair. He wore a grey hooded top and dark jogging bottoms.

The boy was not physically harmed during the incident, although was left very shaken.

The stolen bike is a 2018 model Giant Talon Mountain bike, with a black and red frame. It was fitted with a tracker sim, which is why officers have some details about its route after the robbery.

At this stage, this is being treated as an isolated incident and we have not had any similar reports.

We would urge anyone who may have seen the bike being ridden around the area at the time or since then, to get in touch with Southend CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Officers would also be interested to see any CCTV footage in the area that may have captured the incident, or the following minutes or hours.