THE theft of a family’s bikes worth £15,000 has left a youngster “gutted” after he spent his first apprentice wage on the vehicle.

Peter Crawford approached his house in the Laidlaw Gardens, Tranent to find “the garage door left open and the bikes gone” on Friday (November 22).

Thieves had taken off with three motorbikes and two mountain bikes, as well as the helmets.

They were stolen between 7.10pm and 7.50pm while the house was empty.

Mr Crawford, who owns Tranent-based business Crawford Property & Heating Services, shared a post online to appeal to anyone who has information which could help to track down the people who carried out the thefts, and hopefully have the vehicles returned to his family.

He asked residents in Tranent and elsewhere in East Lothian to look out for the bikes, and to contact the Police if they spot them.

One of the bikes stolen during the break-inThe post read: “I’m asking for your help.

“Someone in Tranent or [the] local area knows. I need to get these bikes back.”

An appeal from Police Scotland reads: "Officers are appealing for information after several motorbikes and a pedal bike was stolen from a garage in Tranent.

"Officers believe the motorbikes, a Honda CRF 300, a Honda CRF 110 and a KTM 150 EXC, along with two mountain bikes, were stolen from a garage in Laidlaw Gardens between the hours of 7pm and 8pm on Friday, 22 November, 2024."

Following enquiries, Police Scotland confirmed today (Wednesday) that both mountain bikes have been recovered. 

The bikes belong to Mr Crawford's family, including three children, and he explained: “They can be replaced but they’re worth £15,000 altogether.”

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His son Joe, 16, began working as an apprentice joiner four months ago and his bike was the first purchase he made with his wages.

Mr Crawford said: “Every penny he saved went towards buying this bike, and now it’s just been stolen like that.

“He’s sort of thinking, what’s the point of working if people are just going to take, and I can see that.

“He’s a young apprentice, he doesn’t work for much money anyway. So that’s every penny he saved, gone.”

Mr Crawford reported the theft to the police and has been keeping an eye on Facebook groups for any leads.

He added: “My kids are gutted. They have lost their pride and joy.”

Sergeant Dougie Wardell said: “We are continuing to check relevant CCTV footage from in and around the area and I would like to appeal to anyone with recording equipment, such as dash cams or ring doorbells, to check the footage as they could have captured images which could assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3958 of November 22, 2024.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to give information anonymously.

Officers are appealing for information after several motorbikes and a pedal bike was stolen from a garage in Tranent.