Thieves are apparently slicing through London's bike racks and taping them up to appear intact in a new ploy to steal bicycles.

Cyclists are being warned not to secure their bicycles to fixtures which have gaffer tape wrapped around them after the new trick came to light.

Thieves are cutting through metal racks and then temporarily repairing the fitting with tape to give the illusion the structure is in one piece.

But Sarah King, Labour councillor for South Camberwell, posted a picture on Twitter on Thursday evening showing how she had fallen prey to the latest scam in Camberwell at the junction of Camberwell Church Street and Vicarage Grove.

Alongside the photograph, she said: “Cyclists please watch out for gaffer tape on bike racks covering up that they’re cut straight through.”

After a cyclist secures their bicycle to the rack, the thief can then return to remove the tape and slide through the bicycle lock, allowing them to take the pedal cycle.

Cllr King told the Standard: "I love cycling and love my bike so I was really upset and I wanted to warn people what was going on. I think the cut was already there and was taped up so it was not visible."

She added when she returned to her bicycle, she initially was initially confused and thought she had left her bike elsewhere.

Cllr King said: "The tape had been pulled back but it was not until I pushed the var that I realised what had happened."

Cherry Allan, policy offer for CTC, told the Huffington Post: “The more publicity that can be given to this, the better. Greater awareness will help the local community and the police who patrol our streets to put an end to this crime.

“All cyclists need to be aware of this and watch out for any bike racks covered in gaffer tape which look suspicious, whether it is their bike at risk or someone else’s.

“Also, please be wary of buying a bike from an unofficial source that seems too good a deal to be true, in case it has been stolen."