Bike repair business hit in £25k break-in as Christmas presents targeted
Thieves stole nine motocross bikes, two quad bikes and other equipment in a £25,000 burglary at a bike repair business.
Matthew Bryant, owner of Mid Wales Moto X in Newtown, said the thieves had "wiped him out" in the overnight raid.
The father-of-two, who set up the bike repair business on Vastre Industrial Estate six years ago, said he estimated he would be left about £10,000 out of pocket.
It is believed thieves used three vans to take the goods. Mr Bryant said: "I would say I had stock worth about £25,000 and pretty much everything was taken.
"The insurance says they hope to pay up by the end of February but not everything will be covered. I reckon I could be left about £10,000 out of pocket."
Sergeant Jonathan Rees, from Dyfed-Powys Police, said inquiries are ongoing.
Mr Bryant hit out at the thieves who he said had shown no regard for the "heartbreak" they had caused.
And he praised his customers for their understanding in the wake of the burglary, which he said had devastated his business.
Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between 9.30pm on December 5 and 7.50am on December 6 to come forward.
Mr Bryant said he had been called by police at 8.15am on December 6 and said he found equipment strewn across the yard outside his unit
He said: "It is really upsetting and it has been difficult to tell my customers their property has been taken.
"The customers have been great, really understanding and I would really like to thank them for everything and all the help they have offered me.
"Two of the bikes were little PW50s which customers had been keeping here as surprise presents for their kids.
"It makes you feel terrible.
"The thieves don't care about the heartbreak and problems they leave behind when they do this.
"One of my own bikes was stolen and the others were customers' bikes which I had worked on and were ready for pick up.
"They are all gone and so are the two quads. One of the quad was for a working farmer so he has been left without a quad now.
"And stacks and stacks of equipment was taken, thousands of pounds worth.
"There was equipment strewn across the yard.
"It seems the thieves brought three vans and just stuffed as much as they could in them until they could not get anything more in."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police on 101.
