Bicycle thieves have been caught on camera at a Palmerston North school.

A group of five men were captured on camera pinching bicycles from the bike cage at Palmerston North Boys' High School on Wednesday afternoon, before school finished for the day.

The men entered the bike cage and pulling bikes from the racks, then rode off with them. They tried to take a couple of other bikes, but couldn't break the locks.

Boys' High rector Dave Bovey confirmed the theft.

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DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Palmerston North Boys' High School rector Dave Bovey.

"We had some young ne'er-do-wellers come in and flog some bikes towards the end of the day."

They weren't current students from the school, and such thefts happened about three times this year, he said.

"We lock the bike cage during the day. Towards the end of the day the groundsman will unlock it.

"But we've had these guys climb over the fence before and take bikes anyway."

He didn't know if it was the same offenders each time.

A police spokesperson confirmed the theft had been reported and said inquiries were being made.