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A gang of thieves from north Bristol have been stealing high powered bikes across the city and bragging about their exploits on social media – the Bristol Post can reveal.

An Instagram account calling itself Bristolbiketaker has been set up and is filled with pictures of stolen bikes. There are even videos of stolen bikes been driven at high speed on the motorways around Bristol.

As reported in the Post police have expressed concern about the growing number of bike thefts in the city.

The Instagram account even brags about its blatant crimes with the description "They call me Mr steal your bikeJail rider/Bristol we take anything and everything".

There are more than a 100 posts featuring everything from pictures of stolen high power bikes, mopeds and even a Dominos pizza delivery bike.

It is believed hundreds of bikes have been stolen across the city and used in joyriding incidents.

In many of the posts on the account the thieves are pictured with blacked out faces or their features covered up with emojis.

The group even mock a public forum which discusses their exploits. The post reads "We know that a gang of scrotes based around Southmead and Lawrence Weston are nicking the majority of bikes around north Bristol."

One of the comments on the Instagram post simply reads "can't catch us".

One bike enthusiast, who doesn't want to be named, has been targeted by the teen gang twice.

He said: "Last summer they tried to steal my bike from outside where I work but ran away after they were spotted.

"They had already damaged the bike trying to steal it. The second time was just before Christmas.

"I popped in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway to get my wife's Christmas present. I was only there for an hour but when I came out the bike, a Triumph Street Triple, had been taken."

The victim reported the theft to the police but was shocked to see his bike featured on the account.

The mangled Triumph was later recovered from an abandoned quarry in north Bristol.

He said: "I told the police about what was happening and it seemed to me it would only be a matter a time before somebody was going to get seriously injured."

Police say there has been a spike in bike thefts in Bristol. The thieves have been using bolt cutters to cut chains and bolts and then have been wheeling the bikes away.

Avon and Somerset Police have been contacted for a comment about the claims.

Last week a teenager suffered serious injuries in a crash in Henbury. The rider of the bike escaped with minor injuries but his 18-year-old passenger is in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Rumours have circulated on social media the bike, ridden by a 14-year-old, was stolen but police have not confirmed this.