A MAN is appealing for thieves to return his “pride and joy” after it was stolen from outside his flat.

Chris Taylor-Beck’s Yamaha YZF-R1 was taken from outside his home near the Shotgate Pharmacy in Southend Road, Wickford at about 11.40pm on April 30.

CCTV cameras outside the pharmacy captured two men, one wearing a baseball cap, snatching the bike just an hour after Mr Taylor-Beck, 36, had ridden it home from work.

Mr Taylor-Beck, who works as a maintenance engineer in Chelmsford, had spent months lovingly restoring the bike.

He is appealing for anyone with information to contact police.

He said: “When I realised my bike had been stolen I was devastated.

“We are not wealthy people and it took us a long time to save up for this bike and to do all the repairs on it.

“It is insured but you never know how much the insurance is going to pay out.”

Mr Taylor-Beck returned home from work at about 10.30pm and parked the bike against railings.

When he got up for work the next morning it was gone.

The bike was registered in 1999 and its registration plate is V243 KGX.

Mr Taylor-beck said: “It was an older bike.

“But it is rare and in quite good condition.

“I have done quite a bit of restoration work to it and my aim was to get it back to near- showroom condition.”

The bike was red, had a sticker on the rear swing arm reading ‘SHOWA’.

The wheels had trim around the rim, the fuel tank was painted with resin and there was a white pillion seat cover.

The bike is worth between £2,500 and £3,500.

Mr Taylor-Beck added: “But we are putting posters up around the area and posting on Facebook.

“We really hope someone can help us get it back.”

Anyone with information about the theft of the bike should contact Essex Police on 101 or crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.