Thieves have stolen valuable bikes which were of huge sentimental value to their owners in two separate break-ins in the last 10 days.
The latest theft happened in Cromdale Walk in Stevenage when two BMX bikes were taken from the boot of a car between 9.30pm on Saturday evening and 7am on Tuesday morning.
They belonged to Bradley Marvell, 13, and his brother Christopher Davies, 11, and are worth more than £2,500 between them.
The pair are both promising young BMX riders who have competed regionally and nationally in the sport.
Mum Charlotte said: “They are distraught and completely shell-shocked.
“They both have races in the next two weeks and at the moment there’s nothing we can do about it.
“They’re members of Royston Rockets BMX Racing Club and we’re trying to arrange different bikes for them to race this weekend but nothing’s been confirmed yet.”
Charlotte spent six months saving up to buy Bradley his £2,000 Pure BMX racing bike and revealed he had been picked as one of 10 children from across the country to compete in a national cycling competition in London in a few weeks time.
“If he finishes in the top five he will go on to a team which races in Manchester but unless he gets another bike he might not be able to compete. They both live, breath and sleep cycling but there’s no way I can afford to buy another two bikes in a week and I would ask anyone who saw anything to please call the police. These bikes mean everything to my kids and I don’t know what they’ll do without them.”
In another break-in thieves stole a Suzuki RMZ250 and a XR400R Honda worth a total of £2,500 from a house in Park Lane in Knebworth between 10.30am on Friday, March 20, and 8.15am the following morning.
The off-road bikes belonged to engineering apprentice Olly Withers and his father Gary.
Olly, 17, had worked numerous Saturday jobs for years to save up £1,600 to buy the Suzuki and races it regularly.
He said: “I spent my life savings on buying that bike. I’d been putting money aside for five years and did as many Saturday jobs as I could so I could pay for it. We’ve had the Honda since 2001 and it’s of great sentimental value to my dad.
“If anyone knows anything please get in touch with the police so we can get our bikes back.”
Olly is also offering a £300 reward for each bike recovered.
Anyone with information should call Herts police on 101.
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