BIKES worth a total of nearly £13,000 were stolen from four houses in Malvern over the weekend.

Eight bikes were stolen from homes in close proximity in the town on Thursday night and Saturday morning.

Between 11pm on Friday and 8.30am on Saturday, a black Specialised mountain bike was stolen from the garden shed of a house in Henley Place.

Another Specialised bike and an Endorfin brand bike were taken between 8pm on Thursday and 8am on Saturday when the doors of a garden shed in Bank Street were forced open.

Two semi-detached garages in Hornyold Road were broken into and a total of five bikes - made by Specialised, Whyte and Giant - were stolen between 10pm on Friday and 10am on Saturday.

In one garage, the thieves had cut a substantial lock securing two of the bikes.

Meanwhile, a homeowner in Hornyold Road was woken by their dogs at about 12.45am on Monday and they saw two people in their garden trying to break into a shed. The pair ran off.

PC Karl Lacey, investigating, said: "These were very determined thieves, who cut through padlocks and chains. It appears that they were specifically targeting high-value bikes.

“I think it is probable the bikes were stolen in one go on one night, Friday to Saturday, and as such the thieves would have needed a large vehicle, a van or lorry perhaps, to transport them.

“If anyone saw any suspicious activity in the Hornyold Road area last weekend, or any suspicious vehicles, please contact me.

“I would also like to remind cyclists that they need to do all they can to protect their bikes, especially as more and more people own very expensive bikes that are of interest to criminals.

“While locks were cut through in this series, in other thefts expensive bikes were store in unlocked sheds.”

Information can be passed on to PC Lacey by calling 101, quoting reference number 205-s-090313, or ringing Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.