Dunmow family appeals after bikes stolen from outside home

Cannondale Trail SL4 (Image: Archant)

The Kings family, comprising of dad Robert, mum Jo and children Alex and Millie got back at around 8.30pm on Wednesday, October 28 having been away in the Peak District tackling the hills in the Matlock/Derwent Valley area.

Overnight, they left six bikes padlocked to the roof rack their vehicle, which was parked on their 20-yard driveway outside their house in Rosemary Lane, and in the morning found that four had been pinched.

Mr Kings, 51, said: “We got back late on Wednesday night, and decided not to unload the bikes.

“It’s a horrible, sick feeling to think that they came down our driveway to get what they wanted. It’s not as if we were parked out on the road or anything. They must have used bolt croppers to get through and get them off.”

Specialized Camber Evo 29er (Image: Archant)

Mr Kings said the theft has played havoc with the training of his 15-year-old son Alex, who is a budding cyclist and saw both his road bike and mountain bike stolen in the incident.

He said: “Since they took both of my son’s bikes, it’s really messing with his training. He’s a very keen cyclist and has aspirations to compete at a good level. He was the one who discovered they were missing on Thursday morning also when he got up for his paper round.”

The stolen bicycles are described as; a black Merida Scultura 400 road bike valued at £1,800, a red Merida 200 road bike valued at £700, a black specialised Camber Evo 29 mountain bike valued at £1,800, and a green and black Connondale Trail SL4 mountain bike valued at £500.

Mr Kings said: “I have registered the bikes on a couple of very good websites, notified local cycling clubs and shared images of the bikes on social media but I don’t hold out too much hope on getting them back really.”

Merida Ride 200 (Image: Archant)

Anyone with any information about the theft can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.