THEFTS of bikes from Amersham and Chesham Tube stations are being linked to two youths.

Officers from British Transport Police believe four bicycles taken from the stations in the last five months were stolen by the same two people.

The most recent thefts took place on Friday March 3, with a bike taken from Amersham at 2.50pm and another from Chesham an hour and a half later.

It is believed one of the men was also present when two other cycles were stolen at Amersham on 17 February and on 4 November last year and are now linking the four thefts.

Today officers said both suspects are white males aged between 17 and 20-years-old.

One is 5ft8ins tall with short dark hair and the other is 6ft with blonde or light brown hair.

PC Tim Barnes, investigating the thefts, said: "Unfortunately cycles are a popular target for thieves but there are several steps people can take to ensure their bikes are adequately marked and secured to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of bike theft.

"The best thing to remember is to register your bike and also to ensure a solid lock is used to secure it.

“If a bike is adequately marked, it makes it much easier to identify and therefore reduces its desirability to thieves."

PC Barnes said it was also important for any passengers who saw people loitering or acting suspiciously around cycle racks to immediately notify Tube staff or contact police.

Anyone with any information about the incidents should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference B4 of 17/03/09, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.