A SCARTHO businessman is counting the cost of a raid on his cycle store which was left like a "bomb site".
Thieves smashed their way in using a sledgehammer and stole five cycles – worth a total of £6,500 – from Cycle Mode in Louth Road, Scartho.
Andy Jones, the manager of the store – which only opened six months ago – said he was left disappointed after the theft.
It took the hooded raiders less than six minutes to batter their way through the back door – causing damage that will cost an estimated £1,000 to repair.
However, their arrival and departure from the store at around 7.45pm on Wednesday, November 7 was captured on CCTV. An alarm activated and the manager was at the scene within ten minutes.
Andy said: "It looked like a bomb had gone off in the back. There were cycles knocked over and the back door in bits."
The five top-of-the-range bikes stolen were:
A black and lime green carbon fibre Felt road bike.
A Cannon Dale SL4 trails bike which is black, white and lime green.
A Cannon Dale Quick model CX2 in white.
A Lapierre X-Control 110 bike in black, white and yellow.
A Cube in black.
Andy said: "I am feeling disappointed, as we are trying to provide a service for the local community and there are a few that want to spoil that and make it harder.
"You have to move on from these incidents, but it hurts when you work so many hours and make a business and these little setbacks we can do without. We are all about providing customer service and we get people popping in for a coffee and a chat while they are out on rides. We help people whenever we can."
The store also provides cycling accessories including safety wear and lights and scooters and is now open on Thursdays for late night shopping.
Witness appeal:
Anyone with information about the raid, or anyone who has seen or heard anyone talking about the stolen bikes, was urged to contact Humberside Police quoting incident number AD/1940593/12 of November 7.
