A spate of thefts have been reported in and around Southport, as police warn of bikes being snatched from bicycle shops, as well as sheds and garages.
Two men were arrested during the early hours of Sunday morning (May 30), following a burglary at the MeCycle shop in Ainsdale.
The men, aged 50 and 31, and from the Bootle area, were caught with three bikes from the Station Road store, as they drove between the Formby Bypass and Brooms Cross Road.
These arrests follow the arrest by British Transport Police (BTP) of a Southport man on May 23, for handling stolen goods, after a high value electric bike was found.
The bike had been stolen from a bike shop on Preston Railway Station and the man was arrested in Lancaster.
Officers say another male suspect for thefts of bikes from garages in the area is currently in custody on another matter.
A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: "We are currently investigating other burglaries of sheds and garages in Southport where bikes and other items have been stolen and we will continue to work with BTP and Lancashire Constabulary during these investigations.
"There is however, clearly a need for local residents and bike owners in particular, to take more preventative measures to reduce the risks of becoming victims of this type of crime."
Police advice includes locking bikes with the strongest chain or "D" lock you can afford, even when the bike is locked inside a shed or garage, and registering your bike frame number, which can be done for free on the bike registry database.
Bicycle owners should also consider adding a shed alarm and be careful of sharing information e.g. photos of bikes or route maps on apps, on social media.
