Neighbourhood officers in Ramsgate have been taking action after an increase in the theft of motorbikes and mopeds across the district.

Over the past two months, Northwood and Newington PCSOs Anne Finch - pictured in Northwood with a seized bike - Dan Mimran, Gareth Foreman and Nathan Prentice and PCs Chris Wiltshire and Melv Geeves have arrested four people on suspicion of the theft of a motor vehicle, two people have been summonsed for no insurance, two bikes have been seized as being stolen, two have been seized for not being the subject of insurance policies and two section 59 warnings have been issued, which will result in further action if they are involved in criminal activity again. Three abandoned vehicles have been seized and one found burnt out has been identified and the owner informed.

PCSO Finch said: “The crackdown on bikes has been really successful in the last couple of months in the Northwood and Newington wards.

“Everyone has put a great deal of effort into the campaign and that has sent a strong signal to those involved in these anti social activities. We hope people are heeding the crime prevention advice to keep their bikes locked out of sight if they can as they have proved an easy target for opportunist thieves and vandals.”

Anyone with information about the thefts can contact Margate Police Station on 01843 231055 or their neighbourhood officer.