A north-east family have offered a £2,000 reward after “professional thieves” stole their prized collection of motorbikes.
The crooks prised a window out of its frame to get into a storage garage near Portsoy – then carefully replaced before fleeing with four off-road machines.
Police believe a vehicle was used in the raid on the Simmonds family’s property at Hillside Farm.
They realised something was wrong when they spotted unusual tyre tracks in a field they use to grow grass foe their turf business.
The four motocross bikes stolen – which were all Suzukis – had distinctive racing livery.
The three 450cc machines and one 250cc model are worth around £10,000.
They belong to Will Simmonds, his brother Michael and their dad Kenneth.
Will said last night: “The bikes were only about two years old.
“The garage they were in was as secure as we could have made it.
“It was boarded up and bolted, but they’ve pulled the beading out of the window to pull the glass pane out.
“The strange thing is they caused damage, but put everything back.
“They shut all the doors and even put the pane of glass back. It was like a professional job, it’s mad.”
He added: “My dad got us involved with motorbikes as kids, when he used to ride motocross professionally.
“He wasn’t on television or anything like that, but he’s quite well known to other bikers in the area because of his involvement in local groups.
“We are now asking them to get in touch with the police if they hear anything.”
The family have also offered a £2,000 reward to anyone who provides information which leads to a prosecution.
Officers probing the theft believe a vehicle could have been used to transport the bikes away from the farm and have urged members of the public to contact them if they saw anything suspicious in the area.
Will said: “We were maybe naive, and should have bolted the bikes to the floor, but we’ve never had anything like this happen before.
“You don’t expect it to happen, I suppose.”
Local councillor Michael Roy said: “Theft at any time of the year is a serious offence.
“But at this particular time of year, when everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves, it’s even more painful.
“I just hope that the perpetrators can be traced and apprehended quickly.
“Portsoy is a law-abiding village and it is surprising that such a thing has happened.”
Police said inquiries were “ongoing”.
Detective Constable Richard Cooper added: “The bikes are valued at around a low five-figure sum of money and it is likely that a vehicle would have been used to take them.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have information to contact us on 101.”
