Burglars steal cycles used for charity races

Burglars broke into a home in Cannock and stole five high-value bicycles used by their owner to raise thousands of pounds for cancer charities through racing events.

Cycling enthusiast John Crossan has been left devastated by the theft of his bikes – worth around £11,000.

But he says he is more angry at the boldness of the intruders who walked into the house and snatched the keys to the garage, where the three mountain bikes and two road bikes were kept, while he and his wife were inside.

The 46-year-old said his pregnant wife Maryam was upstairs having a shower and he was at his computer when someone sneaked into their kitchen in Gratley Croft, Huntington, and grabbed the keys.

His wife is now scared of being in the house alone or going into the garden.

Police are appealing for help in tracing the bikes stolen on Monday between 7.45pm and 8.10pm.

Mr Crossan, a health and safety manager, said: "I'm gutted because the bikes meant a lot to me. But what's annoyed me more is how those responsible walked in here, knowing we were inside.

"They must have been watching us as we sat talking in the living room after having our tea, waiting for us to move."

He said he cycles four or five times a week, and moved moving to the area 12 years ago because of the biking, and has cycled in Mexico, Texas, Gambia, France and Spain.

His next charity ride was due to have been a 24-hour event in May for children's cancer charity Clic Sergeant.

The bikes taken were a blue and silver Bianchi Via Nirone road bike, worth £1,000; a black Marin Mount Vision mountain bike, worth £2,500; a silver Whyte 19 mountain bike worth £2,000; a blue Trek Madone 5.2SL full carbon hand-built road bike, worth £3,000; a red and grey BMC Fourstroke 03 mountain bike, worth £2,500; and a Troute Lite bike light worth £350.

Anyone with information is urged to call Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 812.