A DOWNEND motorcyclist is appealing for help after his treasured bike was stolen from in front of his home.
Cliff Yeo had secured the 2021 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 to a ground anchor in the paved garden at his home off Dial Lane. It was also covered and had a disc lock on the front wheel.
The motorbike was taken in the early hours of April 14 by thieves who cut the cable to the anchor and also appear to have prevented his doorbell camera from filming them.
Cliff, who discovered the theft later that morning, believes more than one person would have been needed to steal the bike, as the wheel lock was not left behind and it was probably lifted into a van or trailer.
He said: “Although I have a Ring doorbell camera it recorded no activity between 10pm on the 13th and 6.45am on the 14th.
“The motorcycle was less than a metre away and is normally in clear view on the doorbell camera.
“I can only assume that the thieves used some probably electronic device to block the camera from recording their activity.”
He said a neighbour had footage on their camera but it was not clear enough to identify the thieves.
Cliff added: “How easily and quickly my bike was taken indicates that the thieves had kept us under observation and planned this, possibly to order.
“This was to be my last motorcycle, at nearly 78 years of age; it was my hobby and my passion.
“What upsets me most is that I took great care to secure the machine in my property with modern video surveillance, which it appears was easily overcome.”
Police have urged anyone with information about the incident or the bike’s whereabouts to call 101 or report it online, quoting the crime reference number 5226 101 252.