CYCLISTS are being urged to ensure their bikes are secure after a spate of break-ins in the Old Sarum area.

Wiltshire Police say a number of properties have been targeted by thieves, where the offenders have broken into garages of homes and taken expensive road or mountain bikes.

A total of seven expensive bicycles were stolen from three properties and two other properties were broken into but nothing was taken.

It happened some time between 10pm on Sunday, May 31 and 6am on Monday, June 1.

Police believe the thieves located the properties after spotting pro-carrier roof racks on top of residents' cars parked outside.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: "We are warning cyclists to make sure their bikes are securely locked when putting them away, even if they are inside a garage or shed. You should use a good quality lock and lock it to a solid object.

"We are also appealing for witnesses to contact us if they saw any suspicious vehicles or people in the Old Sarum area overnight/in the early hours of Monday, June 1."

For more information about bike security go to wiltshire.police.uk. Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111