SPECIALISED triathlon bikes worth in the region of £20,000 have been stolen from a Teignmouth property in what is thought to be a targeted burglary.

The incident took place overnight on Friday, December 15 through to Saturday, December 16, at an address on Yannon Drive.

The bikes were secured against the wall of the garage - the lock for which was prised open by thieves, who then absconded with bikes in hand.

Owner Donald Brooks, 46, believes it was a targeted theft, given that other items in the garage, including other bikes, were not stolen.

'I think it was a targeted attack' Donald said.

'We live in quite cul-de-sac, there aren't reports of burglaries, but they have come into my garage, forced it open and taken the higher value bikes - they left the other bikes' he added.

'The bikes were on the wall, chained up to an anchor point, with a dust sheet over them - they knew what they were after' Donald said.

'It is very off putting - how have they worked out where they are? And what they need to steal them?

'Have they followed me? Have they seen me riding my bike? Was it from my social media?' Donald said.

Donald is not feeling optimistic about his bikes being recovered.

'I must admit, I am not holding out much hope' Donald said.

'If the police find them that would be fantastic, but I am on the pessimistic side that they have gone - I don't think I will ever see them again.

Donald, who has been a triathlete since 2014, is set to compete in the Ironman World Champions in Hawaii later in the year, having already completed several in the past.

'Off the back of the 2012 Olympics I got into cycling more, had a go at a triathlon, I really liked it and went from there' Donald said.

'I have done very well' he added.

'I race with Team GB's Age-Group Team, I first got in the GB team in 2015, and then I have been on the team on and off since then.'

► Anyone with information is asked to contact the police via the Devon and Cornwall Police website or by calling 101 and quoting 50230326003