One of the suspects reportedly yelled “watch when I get you” as the teen fled
The junction of Utting Avenue and Lorenzo Drive in Norris Green(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A 13-year-old boy was traumatised after a masked gang “armed with knives” threatened him and his friends before stealing two electric bikes. The boy’s mum, who has not been named, said she received a frantic phone call from her son on Monday evening (November 24) in which he screamed someone was trying to stab him.
The teen had met two friends outside Aldi on Lorenzo Drive in Norris Green at around 7.40pm. The boy’s mum claimed three youths approached her son and his friends, who had two e-bikes between them, showed them knives and demanded their bikes.
The 33-year-old told the ECHO: “Three lads approached them, showed them blades and then tried to take their bikes. My son threw his bike at them and ran. As he ran away, one of the lads got on the bike and said, ‘watch when I get you,’ and started waving his arms about trying to slash him.
“My son was just shouting down the phone saying someone was trying to stab him. The worst part of it was, when he was on the phone, [my husband and I] just felt helpless. All we could hear was him breathing, shouting, ‘they’re trying to stab me.’
“As a mum, that’s something you never want to hear. I honestly thought he was dying while on the phone to me.”
The boy managed to flee and was later found “shaking” by his parents. His two friends also escaped unharmed.
The mum added: “He had only gone the shop and this is what happened. He had just taken our seven-year-old son to the shop closest to us and then he said he was going to meet his friends. It’s scary to think he could have been with his little brother when this happened.”
She said her son is now “terrified” and keeps reliving the incident. The mum said: “He’s really shaken up. He’s told me he doesn’t want another bike. He said he can’t have anything nice where he lives.”
The mum claimed the weapons were “not little kitchen knives” – one of the weapons reportedly had three blades, while another was around 12 inches long. She said the attackers were covered head-to-toe in black clothing, gloves and balaclavas.
She said: “My son couldn’t even see their eyes. How are they walking around like that and not being stopped by police?
“Kids shouldn’t have to be scared because they’ve got a bit more of an expensive bike. You’ve got to be aware of everyone around you now which you shouldn’t have to. Kids should be able to go out, go tot he shops or play outside.
“Now, they can’t. They’ve constantly got to be aware of people going around completely covered up, which is apparently the norm now.
“My son hardly goes out anymore as it is because there are gangs on these streets. He likes to go on his game or go on bike rides. And now that’s been taken away from him.”
She added bike robberies in the area have been increasing, but “not to this extent where they’re really trying to attack the kids”.
The family said they were unable to sleep and both parents missed work the next day. “I can’t get that phone call out my mind now – I just kept thinking, where’s my son? Is he alive?”, the mum said.
Merseyside Police confirmed they are investigating the robbery and appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Lee Egerton said: “This would have been a terrifying experience for the victims and also for their concerned families. Thankfully no one was hurt, but we are determined to find the three males responsible.
“If you were in this area of Norris Green [on Monday] and saw three males acting suspiciously then please tell us what you know.
“To carry a bladed weapon in our community is reckless and will not be tolerated. It can have devastating consequences, not only for the victim and their family but also for the offenders involved.
“We continue to seek out those involved in knife crime, enticing young and vulnerable people to carry weapons or involved in gangs.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 101 or DM @MerPolCC quoting reference 25000962869 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.