EXPENSIVE mountain bikes worth thousands of pounds have been stolen from sheds in Fair Oak and Eastleigh.

Hampshire Constabulary is appealing for information after bikes costing more than £7,500 were taken from the properties between 10pm on Wednesday, November 21 and 7.25am the following day.

One shed was broken into on Elderberry Close, Fair Oak, where a £5,000 Devinci Wilson bike was taken.

A Commencal Meta bike, worth £2,600 and a Sunn Shamann, valued at £800, were both taken from a premises on Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, while another shed on Desborough Road, Eastleigh was targeted but nothing was stolen.

Police are appealing for information and want to know if anyone knows where the bikes have been taken or if people have been offered a mountain bike for sale.

The force is also urging people to take a number of simple measures to prevent further thefts.

These include ensuring bikes are locked or anchored to an immovable point, even inside a shed or garage, using a D-Lock, and marking bikes by using a property or police approved forensic marking solution only visible under Ultraviolet light.

If you have any information about these incidents or have seen any suspicious people or vehicles, please call 101 quoting Operation External.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.