POLICE have put out an appeal for witnesses after two off-road bikes were stolen in as many days from private homes in Alton and nearby Lower Froyle.

While not linking the two incidents, police have issued advice about security and are asking people to keep a lookout for the vehicles.

The first incident happened when an off-road pit bike, used for scrambling, was stolen from a property on Ryebridge Lane, Lower Froyle, sometime between midnight on Friday, November 25, and 9.40am on Saturday, November 26.

According to the householder, the intruders used a gate from the fields behind his house to enter his back garden before breaking the lock on the shed and forcing the door. He believes they were stealing to order because the only item stolen was the 125cc bike, which is black and blue with a silver frame, currently worth around £300 but which would cost in the region of £2,000 to replace.

This incident has been reported to the police and has a crime number of 44160445995.

The second theft occurred between 5pm and 11pm on Sunday, November 27, when a blue Yamaha WR250F off-road style motorcycle, registration WX03URN, was stolen from the integral garage of a property on New Odiham Road, Alton. The bike is worth around £2,000. The incident was reported to the police and has a reference number of 44160447815.

Both familes were at home at the time of the thefts.

Anyone with information should call Alton police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting the relevant crime number.