SIX bicycles worth more than £4,000 have been stolen from Dunbar in just over a week.

The half dozen thefts took place between July 13 and Sunday, with the bikes stolen from five different places in the town.

Police are now carrying out an investigation and encouraging members of the public to do what they can to keep their bicycles safe.

Inspector Andy Hill, of Haddington Police Station, said: “More than half a million bikes are stolen annually across the UK, with around half of these stolen while the bike is on the owner’s property.

“We’re urging people to ensure that bikes are kept somewhere secure and out of sight wherever possible when not in use, such as in a storage facility or a locked shed or garage.

“Always secure your bike to an immovable object with at least one good quality lock, such as a D-Lock.

“It’s recommended that you invest at least 10 per cent of the cost of your bike on this.

“If you see any suspicious behaviour, make a note of any person or vehicle descriptions and report this to Police Scotland via 101 – always dial 999 if you see a crime ongoing.”

The bikes are described as: a black framed Voodoo Batu with luminous yellow detail; a sky blue On-One (pictured); a grey Trek DS 1 Hybrid (pictured); a white framed Fenetic Sprint Electric Bike with black mudguards; a blue and yellow Rockhopper mountain bike (pictured); and a white framed Cannondale Trail S6 with black and red detail.

Inspector Hill added: “Anyone who may know the whereabouts of any of the stolen bikes is urged to help us reunite these with their rightful owners and contact either police or the charity Crimestoppers as soon as possible.

“I also want to take this opportunity to remind people to always ensure that, when buying a bike second-hand, the seller can provide proof of ownership.

“If you buy stolen items, either knowingly or otherwise, they can be reclaimed by their original owner meaning a financial loss for yourself and potentially further police action.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.