A BIKER from Gateshead has had his KTM EXC250 stolen by thieves in the fifth time he's been targeted in just nine months.

Leon Thompson, 27, had his motorcycle stolen after a pair of youths first inspected his bike and then returned just half an hour later with bolt-croppers.

Thompson, an oil-rig worker, has had his and his girlfriend's cars broken into and vandalised. He installed CCTV to overlook where his bikes were kept but this didn't deter the thieves.

Secured with a large chain into a ground-anchor, the thieves crept onto Thompson's property and cut the lock before wheeling the KTM away, all in plain view of the CCTV.

Thompson said: "I don’t want them getting away with this. They must be relatively local as they managed to get massive bolt cutters and come back in just over half an hour. I think someone would recognise them if they know them and watch the video."

You can see the footage here.

