CALLOUS thieves are stealing bikes given to children as Christmas presents.

Devastated parents have been calling the BEN to describe their children's upset after being robbed of the presents they had been looking forwad to for months.

Philip Blackburn, aged six, had his BMX scooter taken from him while he was riding it on Hurst Street, Morris Green, on New Year's Day.

An older boy asked Philip if he could have a go, but when Philip said no, the boy, who was around 10, snatched it off him and took off down Ellesmere Road. When Philip returned home to Morris Green Lane, he was in tears.

Frightened

His mum Gillian told the BEN: "He was so upset. It was a Christmas present and only the second time he had been out on it. The boy, who was obviously bigger than Philip, frightened him and I think he was more worried about getting into trouble off me than about the bike, but he has been upset ever since." She added: "It is Philip I feel really sorry for. It was a special request from Father Christmas that he had wanted for months and he was so excited when he got it. He just might have to wait a while before I can replace it."

Mrs Julie Holt, from Dorset Street, The Haulgh, had an electronic jeep worth more than £500 and a mountain bike stolen from her back garden overnight on Monday.

The bright blue jeep with her daughter's name Charis, aged five, emblazoned on the bonnet, was taken from under a massive tarpaulin sheet and the bike, belonging to seven-year-old Lewis, was taken out of their shed.

Julie said: "The children are devastated. Charis went everywhere on her jeep - she loved it and it was so expensive we won't be able to replace it. It is a heavy thing, so it must have been hard work for them to move it. And the funny thing is, our back garden backs on to a police station." Her son Lewis had sold another bike and saved his pocket money for three months to buy a new bike which he only had for two weeks before it was taken.

Chris Waters, Community Safety Officer (Crime Prevention) says cyclists should get good padlocks and chains and make the effort of getting their cycles postcoded or etched with a unique serial number.

Leaflets are available at police stations and leisure centres giving details of how to get your bike etched or stamped.

It also includes a record form for owners to fill in with a photograph which can then be passed to the police if the cycle is stolen. The information will help the police return the bike to the rightful owner should it be found.

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