Police in Exeter are appealing for the public's help in tracing a distinctive stolen mountain bike worth around £4,000.
The Sunn Radical downhill mountain bike was stolen in broad day light from a shed to the rear of a residential property in the area of Alphington Road Sainsbury's, sometime between 9am and 5pm on Sunday, December 28.
The incident has left the owner, a bike enthusiast, "gutted".
Officers have stressed that the bike is extremely unusual and are urging members of the public to contact them if they think they see the bike, or if they see any of the parts for sale: Sunn is a French make and not widely available in the UK, and the stolen bike was recently adapted and fitted with large front suspension forks that would look out of place on an ordinary mountain bike.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Andy Hingston said that there had been similar thefts in the nearby area over the last two or three months with bikes being stolen from sheds or garages.
He is urging people to be vigilant and make sure their bikes are properly secured.
"The bike was stolen in a brazen day time break-in to a shed at the rear of the owner's house in Alphington - not surprisingly the owner is gutted about the loss and keen to get his bike back," he said. "We are appealing to the public to be on the lookout for the bike and to bike enthusiasts in case they see any of the parts for sale."
He added: "We have had several incidents over the past two or three months where people's sheds or garages have been targeted.
"Now, particularly at a time when people may have had bikes as Christmas presents, we would urge people to consider how they are securing them – the best way is to secure them to a ground anchor or a wall mount.
"But anything you can do to make it more difficult for someone to steal, for example that may cause them to make more noise or slow them up, increases your chances of putting them off completely."
Anyone with any information should contact DC Hingston at Exeter CID via the police non-emergency number 101.
