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Three teenagers have been arrested and two have been charged with a series of offences by police investigating a wave of motorbike thefts across Bristol.

The teenagers, aged 17 and 14, are facing a range of charges including breaching an already existing criminal behaviour order. Both the teenagers charged have been released on bail ahead of appearances in court next month.

One was arrested last Friday (February 9) when police spotted him riding a stolen motorbike, but the information about his arrest was only released today (Thursday, February 15) – six days later.

One 14-year-old boy will appear in court next month facing six charges, while a 17-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning (February 14) and will face four charges in court.

The 14-year-old is from Lawrence Weston and cannot be named for legal reasons. He was arrested by police last Friday after he was spotted by officers on a stolen motorbike on Falcondale Road in Westbury-on-Trym.

He has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, riding a motorbike on a road without protective headgear, handling stolen goods, breach of a criminal behaviour order, driving a motor vehicle without a valid licence and driving a motor vehicle without insurance.

The 14-year-old has been released on unconditional bail, ahead of an appearance at Bristol Youth Court on March 5.

(Image: BrianAJackson)

A 17-year-old arrested and charged also cannot be named for legal reasons. He is from Henbury and was arrested in the Avonmouth area at 4.15am on Wednesday, February 14.

He has been charged with handling stolen goods, breach of a criminal behaviour order, driving a motor vehicle without a valid licence, using a motor vehicle without insurance.

He was released on conditional bail, ahead of an appearance at Bristol Youth Court on March 12.

Another 14-year-old boy, from Southmead, has also been arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been released under investigation while police make further enquiries, but has not been charged.

Police have been criticised by some motorbike owners in Bristol and supported by others for their efforts to stop what appears to be a gang of young thieves who have been stealing and riding bikes around the city.

Last month Insp Rob Cheeseman, who heads up Operation Buell, which was set up to tackle the issue, spoke about his team's efforts to stop the thefts.

On Thursday, after revealing the three arrests, he said: “These arrests and subsequent charges follow months of both overt and covert police work.

“We know the motorbike community of Bristol have been hit by recent thefts and I hope these results send a strong message that we will relentlessly target anyone involved in such criminality,” he added.

The police also re-issued crime prevention tips to motorbike owners in Bristol.