Police seek information after Rustington bike theft

A group of thieves were disturbed as they broke into a garage complex in Woodlands Avenue, shortly after 2am on Saturday, November 2.

The offenders escaped on bicycles but officers later recovered one of the stolen bikes abandoned nearby.

The mountain bike had been marked by Littlehampton neighbourhood policing team officers as part of Operation Velo, in which the details of bikes are recorded and listed on the Bike Register national database.

Officers found that the bike was marked, logged on to the website and were able to quickly identify the owner.

They are currently trying to identify the people involved and are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the garages being broken into or the thieves escaping.

Sergeant Chris Pipkin of Bognor Regis neighbourhood policing team, which launched Operation Velo, said: “This highlights the value in people registering their bikes.

“This particular bike is worth around £600 and if it had not been registered it would have been very difficult for us to trace the owner.

“Operation Velo offers free bike marking across several areas of Sussex and this example shows that getting bikes registered is well worth a few minutes of your time.”

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting serial 175 of 2 November, email [email protected] or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.