Bikes worth thousands of pounds stolen from Eastbourne shops

Evolution Cycle in Meads Street posted on Facebook that the shop had been broken into twice last weekend when it was shut on Sunday.

The post said, “For more bad news the shop was broken into again this weekend not once but twice – once in the early hours of Sunday morning and again on Sunday evening.”

Sussex Police say officers were called around 1am on December 13 to reports of a burglary at the store. The front window had been smashed and an Evil Wreckoning full suspension mountain bike in a dark metallic copper colour was taken.

According to police, the premises was made secure. However it was targeted again around 11.30pm that night. This time a Santa Cruz Heckler electric cycle was taken. It’s thought those involved in the burglary were travelling in a white transit van.

The thieves took stock worth a total of around £20,000 according to owner Kevin Head.

This comes after the shop suffered a break in back in April this year which saw four bikes taken.

Mr Head said, “2020 has been a challenging time for everyone. Whilse bike shops have been very fortunate to be able to remain open during the pandemic, it has led to extremely limited stock availability across the industry as a whole.

“For us as a small independent business, to lose stock that we will not be able to replace in this manner just before Christmas is very frustrating.”

In addition Cycle Tech in Pevensey Bay was burgled in the early hours of December 15.

Police say officers were called around 3.40am on December 15 to a break-in at the store. Police think the burglary happened around 00.31am.

An Instagram post claimed that there were two thieves caught on CCTV wearing hoodies and face masks and were driving a white Ford transit van.

Two bicycles – a Raleigh Motor Grand Tour low step bike and a Mondraker Dusk RR 29er electric mountain bike – were taken from inside the premises, alongside computers and a quantity of cash according to police.

Guy Soper, owner of Cycle Tech, said the CCTV showed the two thieves also attempt to start a fire before they left.

Mr Soper said, “I feel angry that someone thinks it’s okay to take another persons hard earned property. I dislike that they will buy presents for their loved ones with stolen money, whilst my own children have to get by with less. I hate the paperwork and aggravation of dealing with the insurance company. I’m inspired by the support shown to me by the people of Facebook.”

Sussex Police has said each burglary is being investigated and officers are considering the possibility the break-ins at the two different premises are linked.

Anyone with information on:

• The Evolution Cycle break-ins - contact police online or call 101 quoting serial 1210 of 13/12.

• The Cycle Tech break-in - contact police online or call 101 quoting serial 121 of 15/12.

Anyone with information on either incident can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.