Rare bikes stolen before Leicester shop opens for trading

Thieves broke into a Leicester shop over the weekend and stole two rare electric bikes before the business had even got up and running.

The Rotwild mountain bikes, one worth £4,000 and the other worth £3,200, had been standing in a display window at Ebikes, which is based on Hinckley Road.

However, either late on Friday night (April 3) or early Saturday morning, the burglars smashed a window at the back of the shop, in Mostyn Street, and made off with them.

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Ebikes owner Martin Cronk told the Leicester Mercury: "I was very excited about opening, but to be honest, this has put a bit of a dampener on things."

Mr Cronk said that the bikes are distinctive and asked anyone approached by someone offering to sell them to contact police immediately, adding that he would be taking steps to ensure his other bikes remain safe.

"I have roller shutters on the front of the shop, but now I'm thinking of getting shutters for that window too," he said.

"I'm getting some quotes and it's going to be between £3,000 and £4,000. At first I thought I couldn't afford that, but now I'm beginning to think I can't afford not to have them."

Anyone with information should either contact Leicestershire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.