Cyclists have been urged to be vigilant after a gang of bike thieves targeted Southend town centre.

Expensive mountain bikes left outside shops and businesses in London Road, Nelson Street, Western Road, Queens Road and Elmer Approach, have been stolen over the last week.

It is thought the thieves, who have been stealing at least one bike a day, have been equipped with specialist cutting tools to snap locks.

Chief Inspector Simon Anslow, district commander for Southend, said: “This spate of thefts is very interesting from a policing point of view.

“The fact we have had about one a day in the same streets and the bikes were locked up, shows this is not just opportunism, it’s people deliberately stealing bikes.

“It’s day-time offences so I want to know how on earth they are getting away with it?

“People need to be using the right type of lock – one of good quality with a specific standard.

“I would advise the locks are fixed through the frame and the wheel to a hard standing item such as a bike rack.”

A Carrera Hellcat mountain bike belonging to a 20-year-old man, which was locked in a bike rack in Nelson Street, was stolen last Friday afternoon.

On the same day, another Carrera mountain bike, which was left outside Nandos in London Road, was stolen.

A mountain bike left locked up in London Road, was stolen between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on October 10. It had been secured by the front wheel but the thieves just took the frame and left the wheel behind.

On October 11, another mountain bike was stolen from Western Road.

Police are also keen to trace an Ammaco mountain bike taken from Queens Road and a Raleigh mountain bike which was taken from outside the Forum in Elmer Approach.

Anyone with information about the thefts can call Essex Police on 101.