Police have released an appeal in the ope that stolen bikes can find their way back to their original owners.

A whopping 16,293 bikes have been stolen from Londoners in 2021 alone, Metropolitan Police data records reveal.

The recent spate of violent bike-jackings in Richmond Park that saw professional British cyclist Alexander Richardson dragged by a

motorbike and threatened with a machete led many

South London cyclists to avoid the Royal Park in fear of being targeted.

Comparative to most bike thefts, such violent robbery is rare.

But whether the bike is a £10,000 Pinarello or the cheapest you could find in Clapham Cycle (the Atlow Fixie at £299.99, if you wondered), having a bike stolen under any circumstance is

something Londoners can empathise with one another over all too well.

The raid which officers from the Met's Territorial Support Group (TSG) made on a property in east London early morning yesterday (Wednesday, October 27) recovered 20 of the 2,186 bikes that were stolen across the capital last month.

If you don't recognise your bike, perhaps someone you know will recognise theirs.

Sergeant Robert Aston, from the TSG Proactive and Wanted Offender Unit, said: "We will never tolerate theft in London and we are glad to have recovered these stolen bikes.

"We'd like to return as many bikes and parts as possible to their owners so please get in contact with us if you have had your bike stolen and recognise them in the images."

If you recognise any of the bikes in the images you are encouraged to contact 101 quoting CAD 930/27Oct.

Alternatively, email [email protected].

You will be asked to provide proof of purchase.

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