A KEEN cyclist has spoken of his frustration of not enough action being taken to stop thief in Basingstoke town centre.

Graham Shuck had gone into Festival Place last Wednesday to pop into the bank, when his bike was stolen from the bike lock ups in Church Street.

“I had come around the corner when I saw two people heading off on bikes,” said Mr Shuck.

“Because my bike is quite distinctive I immediately noticed that one of them was mine, so I gave chase, but they were already out of sight.”

Mr Shuck said that his bike was secured by two locks on the bike, with one “wrapped around the whole frame”.

He added: “They must have gone down with bolt cutters and taken some effort to get the bike free.”

Mr Shuck said he complained to staff at the Malls and Festival Place to view CCTV but was told the issue would be referred to the police.

He added: “What I don’t understand is they are quick to use their camera’s when there are ‘undesirables’ in the town, but as soon as an actual theft takes place they don’t want to know.”

Mr Shuck said that he encountered another man who also had his bike stolen from the exact same stop, with both bikes valuing more than £3,000.

Police confirmed they had a report of a theft of a Scott mountain bike from a rack in Church Street between 11.45am and 12.05pm on Wednesday 15 August.

Enquires are ongoing.

A spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said: “Officers from Basingstoke’s Neighbourhood Policing Team regularly patrol hotspot areas and hold bike surgeries to share crime prevention advice.

“If anyone has had their bike stolen or has been offered a bike for sale in suspicious circumstances, they should report it via 101.”