British Transport Police have released a gallery of images of bike thieves who have targeted railway stations across Sussex, stealing commuters’ cycles.

In the past five months nearly 500 reports of bicycle thefts were made to police in Brighton and Hove alone; this gallery includes images from the scene of the crimes across the county.

Officers would like to speak to the man in image 1 after two wheels were stolen from a bike which was left secured in the racks at Eastbourne station on Monday, 15 April between 6.30am and 6pm.

The man pictured in image 2, carrying a walking stick may have information about the theft of a bike and its lock, from Bognor rail station on Tuesday, 16 April between 8.30am and 6pm.

Do you recognise the person in image 3? Officers would like to speak to them after wheels were stolen from a bike Shoreham station on Friday, 4 April between 8am and 6pm.

Investigators are keen to trace the man in image 4 after a bike was stolen from Lancing station on Saturday, 27 April. The theft took place in the evening between 6pm and 10pm.

The man in image 5 is believed to have information after a secured bike was stolen from Ford rail station between midday on Sunday, 26 May and 10pm on Thursday, 30 May.

If you recognise the three men in image 6 officers would like to speak to you. The victim returned to Horsham station to find that his bike lock had been cut through. The incident took place between 9am and 6am on Wednesday, 29 May.

Officers would like to speak to the pair in Images 7 and 8 after a secured bike was stolen from Littlehampton station between 8.15am on Thursday, 16 May.

The man in the striped jacket in images 9 and 10 may have information about a bike that was stolen from Shoreham station between 7.15am and 7.30pm on Wednesday, 12 June.

Officers are also keen to talk to the man in image 11 after the cycle owners, who had secured two bikes together at West Worthing station, returned to discover that one had been stolen. The theft took place between 1.45pm and 11pm on Saturday, 1 June.

Investigators would like to speak with the two men pictured in image 12 after a bike and its lock were stolen from Bognor Regis station between 9.30pm and 11.10pm on Thursday, 23 May.

Officers would like to speak to the men in images 13 and 14 after a secured bike was stolen from Pulborough station between midday on Monday 20 May and 7pm on Friday, 20 May.

The two men pictured in image 15 may have information about after a secured bike was stolen from that Worthing station between 5.15pm on Friday, 18 May and 12pm on Sunday, 11 May.

Investigators are keen to speak to the man in image 16 after a bike and its lock was stolen from Hove station between 7.10am and 4.30pm on Friday, 14 June.

The man in image 17 may have information about a bike that was stolen from Shoreham station between 6.55am and 8.40pm on Monday, 27 May.

Both men in image 18 may know something about a bike that was stolen from Crawley station between 6.40am and 5.40pm on Monday, 10 June.

Officers believe the same two men are pictured in image 19 and may have information about a bike theft that happened at Three Bridges station between 8.24am and 7.45pm on the same day.

Do you know the three people in image 20? Officers would like to speak to them after a bike was stolen from Southwick station between 3.30pm on Wednesday, 19 June and 10.30am on Thursday, 20 June.

The man in image 21 may have information about a bike that was stolen from Shoreham station on Sunday, 23 June between 11am and 8.30pm.

Investigators would like to speak to the man in image 22 after a bike was stolen from Falmer station between 4.30pm on Saturday, 11 May and 4pm on Monday, 13 May.

Officers believe all three people in images 23 and 24 may have information about a bike stolen from Southwick station between 1.25pm on Thursday, 27 June and 8.30am on Friday, 28 June.

PC Billy Burstow said: “Sadly bicycles are a popular target for thieves but there are lots of things people can do to make sure their property is adequately marked and secured. “It’s important to remember to register your bike and ensure a solid lock is used to secure it. If a bike is adequately marked, it makes it much easier to identify and therefore helps reduce the risk of becoming a victim of bike theft. ”

BTP officers regularly conduct cycle crime awareness surgeries at stations across Sussex to off

er crime prevention advice and identify the top locations for bike theft, targeting them through covert and overt policing operations to catch would-be offenders in the act. “We will continue to work closely with train operating companies to tackle cycle crime.”

Police advised cyclists to get their bike tagged and registered at www.bikeregister.com.

Anyone with any information about the incidents or who recognises the people pictured in the images should contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference B5/LSA of 5/9/13, quoting the image number.