A couple from Royston have spoken of their shock at having their beloved bikes stolen from their home.

Two mountain bikes and two road bikes were taken from the garage of the home in Whydale Road on Sunday, January 14, between 3.15pm and 7pm – the thieves also smashed a window to try to get into the house.

The wife returned home with their two children and discovered the disturbance – she then waited for an hour and a half in their car outside the property for the police to arrive.

The couple did not wish to be named, but the wife told the Crow: “I thought are they still in the house? I sat in the car with my children unable to go into my own house.

“Even after I knew no one was inside, it still took a while to go in. Now I’m wandering around my home feeling unsafe. I’m not comfortable – and that’s not what I want from a home.”

The couple share a love for mountain biking, and met while biking in the Alps.

The husband said: “It is our passion, so we do like to have the best bikes we can. We like to travel around Europe and go mountain biking.

“The green and black bike (pictured) I had specially made for my wife. She’s had two children in two years, and wanted her to have something special before we had our third. She’s now pregnant again and and only rode it a couple of times.

“When my wife told me it was quite a shock. I’ve lived in Royston my whole life, and nothing like this has ever happened to us before.

“I am grateful they didn’t get into the house, but it’s not about what they have taken – it’s the mess they’ve left behind.

“I feel like I’m running just to stand still. There’s so much to do to get back to how we were.”

Det Con Kerry Burrows from Herts police said: “I’m appealing for anyone who may have been offered these bicycles for sale, or who has information, to contact me.

“I’d also like to hear from anyone who may have seen people behaving suspiciously in the area or may have seen offenders making off with the bicycles on Sunday.”

Anyone with information should email kerry.burrows@herts.pnn.police.uk, call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference G4/18/62 or report information online at www.herts.police.uk/report.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.