€10,000 worth of bikes stolen in Ballinrobe

APPEAL A picture of some of the bikes stolen from Western Lakes Cycling Club.

Ciara Galvin

TEN bikes worth close to €10,000 have been stolen from Western Lakes Cycling Club in Ballinrobe.
The exact date of the break-in and thefts is not known for definite, but it is thought that the bikes were taken on November 2 last.
Four children’s bikes and six adult bikes were taken from the cycling club’s centre on the Kilmaine Road outside the town.
Four of the bikes were ‘giant’ branded and blue/purple in colour, most of the six adult bikes were ‘Terry Dolan’ bikes, and all were owned by the club.
Speaking to The Mayo News, clubman Padraig Marrey said whoever took the bikes ‘knew what they were looking for’ and caused as little damage to the premises, during the break-in, as possible.
“They knew exactly where to go, they knew where we stored the bikes. We’re taken aback, we feel it was local knowledge, it wasn’t by fluke, we feel deceived,” explained Marrey.
According to Mr Marrey, a window was prized open to gain access to the centre and the bikes were taken out one by one.
The youth bikes were only purchased by the club last year, while the adult bikes were used to let people try out cycling before investing in their own.
“Th adult bikes, to replace like with like, would be about €1,000 a piece, it would be close to €10,000 in total.”
The club, which has recently been shortlisted for Best Club of the Year by Cycling Ireland, has been based at the centre since 2003, and this is the first break in.
“The bikes were for the development of young kids cycling, road safety cycling, the benefit of people’s health. We’re not a lucrative club, we can’t replace them overnight,” concluded Marrey.

MORE Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballinrobe Garda Station on 094 9542830 or any garda station.