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A cyclist who took her new £900 bike into a shop because she had forgotten its lock was stunned when a thief followed her inside and stole it while she was distracted.

Sunita Trivedi brought the Specialized Allez Sportsroad bike into the Holland and Barrett health food shop during a morning shopping trip.

The thief, who Sunita believes had been watching her, waited a few moments before following her inside, and took the bike while the 49-year-old married mum was chatting to a shop assistant.

When she realised what had happened, Sunita, who works as a teaching assistant, chased him out of the shop and down the street in Oadby, Leicestershire, but could not catch him, LeicestershireLive reports .

(Image: (Image: Sunita Trivedi))

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said the theft, which happened at 10.30am on Sunday, October 20, is being investigated.

Sunita said: "It's so upsetting. Even a few days on I can't stop thinking about it. I realised I didn't have the lock with me so I asked the lady in the shop if I could bring my bike in with me for safety.

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"She was lovely about it and said I could. A minute or so later we heard the door open, we looked and saw a middle aged man walk out. Instinctively I thought about my bike.

"We both quickly moved towards the door. She thought about theft from her store. I noticed my bike was gone. I was devastated. I've only had it a month.

"I chased outside and saw him getting on my bike and he began to pedal away. I ran after him but he got faster and faster and there was no way I could catch up.

"It's just shocking. My bike wasn't even near the doorway, it was around the corner. He must have been watching me and waited a few moments and followed me inside. It's all really unsettling.

"I've been a keen cyclist for years but I've been getting more serious about it recently because I wanted to challenge myself more. Getting the new bike was part of that."

Connie Sabra, a supervisor at the shop, said: "The lady was very upset, so I did what I could to comfort her.

"It was all so fast that this person must have been watching her and waited before following her into the shop.

"When she realised what had happened she chased him and screamed at him to stop, but he kept on riding it and she had no chance of catching up with him.

"This was a quiet Sunday morning. It's outrageous that he has done this to this lady.

"He obviously followed her into the shop and saw that she was distracted and helped himself to her bike."