Mountain bike owners are victims of choosy thieves - but police say most of them have only themselves to blame.

Twelve of the machines, collectively worth about £3,000, have been stolen in Witney in a matter of weeks - and nearly all were left unlocked.

Town police Chief Insp Michael Carrick said: "The message is simple - for goodness sake, use a security device."

Four weeks ago the police, backed by local cycle dealers, held a special bike safety and security display on the town's Church Green. They are also visiting local schools to get the message across.

But despite the publicity drive, the spate of thefts continues.

Insp Carrick added: "They are all mountain bikes and, except for one occasion, have all been stolen on different days, so I don't think we are talking about people coming in from outside and making one big clean-up." The thefts have occurred in both the town centre and on housing estates, including Eastfield Road, Davenport Road, Oxlease and Burford Road.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Insp Carrick on 01993 703913.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.