Police hope to return haul of stolen bikes
Police are hoping to return stolen pushbikes to their owners after a haul of cycles were recovered during a raid by officers at an address in Cannock.
A search warrant was issued following the arrest of a 25-year-old man earlier this week. He was quizzed about the bikes as part of a police interview, after he was held on suspicion of going equipped to commit crime, before being released on police bail pending further inquiries.
A generator was also recovered from the property.
Another two men, aged 29 and 33, both from Cannock, were also arrested and remain on bail until further investigations are made.
Police today warned that motorbikes, scooters and pedal bikes are an easy target for thieves if they are not secured as they can be wheeled away or bundled into a van in seconds.
Sgt Adrian Reeves, neighbourhood team, said: "A lot of vehicle crime is the result of an easy opportunity presented to the criminal, and there are some simple steps that people can take to outsmart the criminals."
The bike thefts follow similar incidents this year in the area.
In March, 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.
Cycling enthusiast John Crossan was left devastated by the theft of his bikes, worth around £11,000.
The thieves had sneaked into the kitchen of the house Gratley Croft, Huntington, 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 the intruders struck.
Just last month, 36 mot-orcycles were stolen across Wolverhampton during an eight-week crime spree..
Residents in Cannock and across the South Staffordshire region are now being urged to check their sheds and outbuildings for any missing property.
