POLICE are urging residents to be on guard in the wake of a spate of bike thefts which has hit Welland.

Nine bikes have been taken from properties in the village, of which four have been located and returned to the owner, and police believe the incidents are linked.

A police spokesman said: "It appears that these incidents are linked, given the time and date they have occurred and the nature of the offences.

"There are simple things people can do to put criminals off. We would urge people to double check their garages and sheds to make sure they are as secure as possible and also to report immediately any suspicious activity."

Between 5pm on Tuesday, February 24 and 8am on Wednesday, February 25, thieves stole the bikes from four properties in Welland and Upper Welland.

As well as the thefts, at around 1.15am on the Wednesday, two males tried to open a car door parked at a property in Heathlands Close.

They were spotted and shouted at and rode off on BMX bikes after the attempted theft had been foiled.

Four of the the missing bikes are a black Expert Evo, a black and green Evo mountain bike, a black Nuke Proof Troof mountain bike and a red Lappierre mountain bike.

Properties in Merebrook Close, Chase Road and Giffard Drive were targeted during the spate of thefts.

Officers are carrying out night patrols, in plain clothes, across the Malvern Hills district to catch and deter thieves.

If anyone has information into any of the bike thefts, call 101.