Some of the stolen bikes. Photo: Cumbria Constabulary

Police are looking for the owners of six mountain bikes recovered after the arrest of suspected thieves.

The bikes, worth several hundred pounds, were found following the arrest of a man and woman in Workington, Cumbria.

Officers from Cumbria Constabulary believe the machines may be stolen and are keen to reunite them with their rightful owners.

Inspector Mark Wear said: “We have made two arrests and have seized a number of bikes that we believe are stolen – some, we suspect, were stolen over the last few days.

“We are contacting a number of people who have reported thefts to us to see if we can reunite people with their bicycles and have posted photographs on our Twitter account in an effort to spread the word and get the owners to come forward.”

The bikes in question can be seen on Allerdale Borough Police’s Twitter page.

Police also gave the following advice to bike owners:

When out with your bike:

• Always lock your bicycle, even if you are just leaving it for a couple of minutes
• Avoid leaving your bike in isolated places. Leave it where a potential thief can be easily seen
• Invest in a quality lock, two if possible. Two locks of different types will slow thieves down. Hardened steel d-shaped locks are recommended as the minimum standard
• Lock your bike to an immovable object – a bike rack or ground anchor. Remember that thieves can remove drainpipes and lift bikes off signposts
• Secure removable parts. Lock both wheels and the frame together. Take smaller parts and accessories with you, for example, lights, pumps and quick-release saddles.

At home:

• Keep your bike in a secure garage or shed and keep the door locked and consider registering them at the Immobilise website, a free register of property ownership which enables you to register items such as mobile phones, iPods, cycles and other valuables. In the event of a loss or theft this could help to identify true ownership and hopefully aid in the recovery of your possessions
• Make sure your bike is out of public view
• Secure your bike to an immovable object, or consider installing a floor or wall mounted anchor lock for extra security.