Moment brazen thief slices through bike lock in seconds using a battery-powered angle grinder

This is the shocking moment a crook uses an angle grinder to cut through a bike lock in just two seconds.

The hooded thief can be seen in broad daylight walking up to the bicycle before pulling out the cordless power tool. 

The shameless theft took place on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, east London, yesterday morning.

Witnesses watch on as sparks fly from the metal lock, which was easily sliced open.

The man - also clad in a tartan shacket and dark gilet - stumbles as the racer bicycle falls on the ground.

But, he manages to pick it up and ride off casually down the road while putting the angle grinder in his green rucksack.

An onlooker filmed the shocking crime on their mobile phone in a 14 second video.

Cordless angles grinders are available to buy from as little as £75.

Local Alistair Burton, 55, said: 'Legal access to cordless angle grinders should be harder to achieve than holding a licensed firearm.'

Andrew Gorman also fumed: 'Surely the CCTV could track him. Why hasn't gone for a more expensive bike if you're going to go to the effort with an angle grinder.'

Another joked: 'Man came prepared,' while a former Army veteran said: 'No f**** given.'

The Met Police has been approached for comment.

A similar theft occurred in January last year when a group of thugs used an angle grinder to steal a commuter's bike outside a busy rail station in broad daylight.

In the footage, taken at Borough Green and Wrotham Station in Borough Green, Kent, the thieves can be seen taking a minute to grind off the chain.

They then try to escape with the bike but the lock gets stuck in its spokes.

One of them tries to ride it but the chain appears to have come off and he ends up running up the hill pushing it.

Meanwhile a bystander calls the police. Others said that the crooks were 'not exactly the Krays'.