thieves have stolen new bikes bought for two South Yorkshire children for Christmas.
The bikes – which the youngsters had not even ridden – were taken from an address on Gresley Road, Lowedges, Sheffield, while the children and their mum were in the process of moving into their new home.
Toni Whitehouse, aged 29, discovered the property had been broken into last week when she called around to take some more belongings and found her washing machine and freezer were missing.
Bikes belonging to her children Esmee, nine and Flynn, seven, had also been taken.
Toni, who had been living with her mum Patricia Saxon, 57, in Greenhill, while she was decorating her new house and moving belongings in, bought the BMX bikes for her children for Christmas.
Esmee’s was pink and Flynn’s was blue and had aliens on it. Both were bought from Toys R Us.
Patricia, speaking on behalf of her daughter, who was too distraught to talk, said: “We are all devastated and the children are really upset about this. The bikes were bought for Christmas and the children hadn’t even been outside on them.”
“The children were both really excited about moving into their new home and really looking forward to it.
“This has just taken the shine off everything for them.
“The bikes are just too expensive to replace straight after Christmas.
“Toni had to save up for them, so we are just hoping that somebody knows where they are and that we get them back.
“The bikes are the first ones the children have ever had.”
n Anyone with information about the burglary or whereabouts of the two bikes is asked to call South Yorkshire Police on 101.
Comments