A NUMBER of mountain bikes worth thousands of pounds each were stolen from sheds and a garage last week.

Two sheds and a garage were broken into between 11pm on Tuesday, November 23 and 7am on Sunday, November 28 in the New Milton and Fordingbridge areas. 

Now, police are appealing for information for the following thefts: 

• Forest Oak Drive, New Milton - a Canyon Nerve mountain bike as well as a black and blue Canyon EXDCF worth £1,500 each were taken between 11pm on November 23 and 6am on November 24.

The crime reference number is 44210472477.

• Hobart Road, New Milton – Two bikes, including a black Bombtrack gravel bike worth £3,500 were stolen between 10.30pm on November 27 and 5.30am on November 28.

The crime reference number is 44210477726. 

• Station Road, Fordingbridge – Two bikes including a black carbon fibre bike with Campagnolo gears valued at £2,000 were taken between 11pm on November 27 and 7am on November 28.

Crime reference number: 44210477748.

If you have any information about these incidents or have seen any suspicious people or vehicles, please call 101 quoting the relevant crime reference numbers, listed above.

Alternatively, you can submit information online via this link https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/

To prevent incidents like this from happening, the police have issued the following advice: 

 • Ensure your bike is locked or anchored to an immovable point, even inside your shed or garage.

• Use a D-Lock.

• If you use Strava or ride tracking apps, make sure your privacy settings are changed so that your start and end point aren’t shared.

• Mark your bike by using a property or police approved forensic marking solution only visible under Ultraviolet (UV) light.

• Take pictures of the bike, as well as the bike frame number, as this can assist police in stolen property is recovered and reunite you with your prized possessions.

• Register your bike free of charge using one of the accredited property databases such as https://www.immobilise.com/

For further crime prevention advice, visit:  https://www.hampshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/