Motorcycle shop Hyperformance Cycles at Ridgehaven lost to fire
A MOTORCYCLE business allegedly owned by a bikie member banished to Christmas Island has been destroyed in a fire at Ridgehaven. SEE THE PICTURES
A MOTORCYCLE business allegedly owned by a bikie member banished to Christmas Island has been destroyed in a fire at Ridgehaven.
Emergency services were called to a workshop on Norma Ave called Hyperformance Cycles just after 2.30am on Saturday.
The workshop was well ablaze and it took more than 50 firefighters 90 minutes to bring the intense flames under control and prevented them from spreading to other premises.
Fuel and paint from the workshop made it difficult for the blaze to be completely extinguished as firefighters remained on scene to put hot spots out.
The blaze completely destroyed the motorcycle workshop and has been deemed suspicious by fire cause investigators.
Motorcycles, tools and fuel were lost in the fire, causing $200,000 in damages.
Steve McLean, of McLean Automotive Service next door, said he was woken by a call in the early hours on Saturday morning before driving to his business.
“I live in Hope Valley and there was smoke in my carport,” he said.
“When I got here, I wasn’t even let up the street, the flames were so huge I thought my business was affected too.”
The blaze cause the back wall of the workshop to fall on the shed of a nearby gym.
The motorcycle workshop, specialising in Harley Davidson bikes, had not been operating for several weeks.
The owner of Hyperformance Cycles is apparently alleged Mongols treasurer Andrew Peter Stevens — one of the two UK-born people who faced immigration detention and deportation after their visas were cancelled because he had a bikie gang connection.
Both men can appeal from Christmas Island but immigration minister Peter Dutton has sweeping powers to cancel visas without notice.
Stevens’ family started a petition to bring back the grandfather-of-three, who was “kind and generous” and “well respected” in the motorcycle industry.
On the Hyperformance Cycles Facebook page, the top post is a link to the petition which states: “Many of you may know by now that owner Andy has been detained by the Immigration department and sent to Christmas Island. He has not committed a crime or been arrested. Please take the time to sign and share this post to help get Andy home to his family and back to work of course.”
The petition itself says: “According to the Minister my Dad does not meet minimal character requirements to live in Australia because he is a member of a Motorcycle Club.
“Dad has called Australia home for 45 years, moving from the UK when he was just 9. His wife, my step mum is Australian born, as are all my brothers and sisters.
“The devastating impact this is having on our family is unmeasurable.”
Holden Hill Police are asking anyone with information on the fire to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
