What started as just another workday for a Deliveroo rider quickly spiraled into a terrifying ordeal on the streets of Birmingham.
In a scene that feels straight out of a crime drama, a delivery driver was ambushed in broad daylight by a masked gang who had no intention of letting him finish his shift peacefully.
The incident took place right outside the Clayton Hotel on Albert Street on April 30.
The courier had simply pulled over, likely taking a short break or waiting on an order, when things took a dangerous turn.
Ambushed and Outnumbered by a Masked Gang
Video footage from the scene shows the shocking moment the rider was surrounded by four masked individuals on mopeds.
They circled him like predators before one of them lunged in an attempt to wrestle his vehicle away.
In the chaos, two of the attackers actually tripped and fell, tangled up with their own mopeds.
But that small mishap didn’t stop them.
The second the delivery driver stepped away from his bike—likely out of sheer panic or shock—one of the gang members seized the opportunity.
He jumped on the moped and sped off.
A Coordinated Getaway and a Vanishing Food Box
Within moments, the gang scattered, each taking off in different directions.
The familiar green Deliveroo food box attached to the stolen moped was soon just a dot in the distance.
The whole scene played out in the middle of the day, right in front of people on the street.
Understandably, many bystanders and social media users were appalled.
One person said bluntly, “Birmingham is unfortunately gone,” while another fumed, “You literally can’t have anything for yourself anymore.”
Public Outrage Grows Over Broad-Daylight Crime
The reaction online was filled with frustration and heartbreak for the rider.
“Disgusting. Poor man trying to make a living and someone just laughs while stealing from him,” wrote one user.
Another person added, “In broad daylight, a gang steals a man’s motorbike that he’s using to earn his living. Jail all of these scumbags for years. What have we become?”
It’s a sentiment echoed by many across the city and beyond—a mix of anger, fear, and exhaustion at the rise in street crimes targeting everyday workers.
Deliveroo Responds and Calls for Police Action
In response to the incident, Deliveroo issued a statement expressing deep concern.
“We take reports about rider safety and welfare extremely seriously and are concerned to see this footage.
If a rider is subject to any criminal behaviour we urge them to contact the police, who are the appropriate body to investigate. We will fully support any investigation.”
At the time of writing, West Midlands Police has been contacted for comment, but no further update has been provided yet.
A Worrying Pattern of Moped Crimes
Unfortunately, this isn’t a one-off incident. Just a few weeks earlier in March, two other moped-riding thieves were caught on camera in a similarly bold robbery—this time in London.
They were seen casually cruising through the streets before one of them suddenly swerved onto the pavement and snatched a commuter’s phone right out of their hands.
The victim tried to chase after them but was left helpless as the riders disappeared down the street with his device.
Londoners Voice Their Frustration Over Rising Crime
The London incident, much like the Birmingham one, sparked intense debate online.
“London is cursed! We need to stop this nonsense,” one social media user wrote.
Another added, “You simply don’t bring your phone out on a busy London street anymore.”
It’s clear from both cities that these kinds of crimes are no longer rare, and that’s exactly what makes them even more frightening—they’re becoming disturbingly normal.
What Comes Next?
With delivery drivers and everyday pedestrians now increasingly becoming targets of street crime, many are calling for tougher crackdowns, more visible policing, and better protection for gig economy workers.
For now, riders like the one in Birmingham are left shaken—and the rest of us are left wondering just how safe our own streets really are.
