Bike thief attacks rider with metal pipe

A metal pipe-wielding suspect allegedly assaulted a bicyclist from behind before making off with two bikes Thursday evening in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza, police said.

Around 5:10 p.m., officers responded to a robbery at the tourist-heavy area at the foot of Market Street formerly known as Justin Herman Plaza.

There, they learned that a man approached a bicyclist from behind and assaulted him with a pipe. The suspect then took the victim’s bicycle.

The suspect next approached another bicyclist and demanded his bike as well.

The suspect was able to flee with both bikes in hand, according to police.

The victim who was assaulted with the pipe was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

Officers were unable to locate the suspect, described only as a man in his 40s, police said.