POLICE reported that there has been a recent and significant increase in mountain bike thefts in the Durban North area. At least one bike is reported stolen per day.

It is suspected that a syndicate is involved as only expensive bikes have been targeted. “The thieves primarily strike at night. They break into houses and garages only to steal the bikes. No other items have been reported stolen during these robberies,” said Lt Raymond Deokaran, communication officer at Durban North SAPS.

Thieves broke into a home on Sackville Road on Saturday, 21 June, and stole noting but three bikes, each worth R14 000, from the home.

Similarly, on Monday, 23 June, two mountain bikes valued at R80 000 was stolen from a garage in Sunningdale.

On Thursday, 26 June, a R20 000 bike was also reported stolen from a garage on St Andrews Drive. The owner realised that the bike was missing when he noticed that his garage door was forced open on the Thursday morning.