E-Scooter Meat Heist Ends in Spectacular Flying Tackle by Undercover Cop
Tackle by Undercover Cop
“You can run from the law, but you can’t out-scoot a flying tackle.”
A North London thief discovered the hard way that an e-scooter is not an escape-proof getaway vehicle when a plain-clothes police officer channeled their inner NFL linebacker, launching a full-body flying tackle that brought an end to the great meat-chiller heist of 2025.
The Grand Escape (That Lasted About Three Seconds)
CCTV footage captured 44-year-old Gavin Nicholls in the act, executing what can only be described as a chaotic, low-budget supermarket sweep. Armed with nothing but a green plastic bag and an e-scooter parked conveniently inside the shop doorway, he helped himself to as much meat as physics would allow, before attempting what he probably thought was a slick getaway.
Reality, however, had other plans.
As Nicholls sped out of the shop, hoping to disappear into the mean streets of Barnet, a plain-clothes police officer—who clearly moonlights as a rugby prop forward—swooped in with the kind of flying tackle that would make the Six Nations jealous.
Eyewitnesses report that Nicholls and his stolen meat soared briefly through the air, before gravity (and justice) brought them crashing back down in a heap of ham, sausages, and regret.
“It was beautiful,” said one stunned shop assistant. “Like watching an eagle take down its prey—except the prey was an adult man on a scooter holding stolen bacon.”
“And in That Moment, He Knew He Messed Up”
Police confirmed that Nicholls, who was already wanted for a string of thefts, admitted to stealing from the store as well as committing five other meat-related heists at a nearby BP garage.
The judge at Willesden Magistrates’ Court—who, one assumes, had to suppress a smirk while reading the case—sentenced him to 20 weeks in prison, presumably to reflect on his life choices and why meat theft via scooter is not a viable career path.
The Bigger Picture: The Rise of ‘Trolley Dash Crime’
Nicholls was just one of 18 people arrested in a four-day police operation targeting thefts in the Colindale area, as retail crime in the UK continues to hit record levels.
Recent reports show that in the 12 months to September last year, customer theft incidents skyrocketed by 3.7 million to a total of 20.4 million, costing retailers a whopping £2 billion.
Some experts blame the cost-of-living crisis, while others suggest that the modern thief lacks patience, subtlety, and basic risk assessment skills—as demonstrated by our friend on the scooter, who didn’t think twice about parking his getaway vehicle inside the crime scene.
Lessons Learned (Or Not)
Nicholls now has plenty of time to reconsider his methods, and maybe even work on his scooting speed, awareness of surroundings, and general ability to avoid airborne law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the undercover officer responsible for the heroic tackle has reportedly been offered a spot on the England rugby squad and has been nominated for “Most Cinematic Arrest of the Year.”
As for the e-scooter? Sources say it remains in custody, charged with “aiding and abetting questionable life choices.”