A Canterbury pensioner has been left distraught after thieves stole his treasured Triumph Bonneville motorcycle.

The crooks broke into a shed belonging to Doug Nicholls and used bolt croppers to take the machine, which he had been working on over the winter.

The burglars also swiped a large quantity of his tools, with the overall loss running to more than £4,000.

The theft happened in the early hours of Monday morning at the 66-year-old grandad’s home in Turnstall Road on the Hales Place estate in Canterbury.

“To say I’m gutted is an understatement,” said Mr Nicholls, a retired Stagecoach bus mechanic.

“I had owned the bike since 2008 and it was my pride and joy.

“I was working on it to get it ready to ride as the weather improved and can’t believe it’s gone.”

Mr Nicholls says the thieves broke into all three of his sheds but may have found the motorcycle by chance.

“They must have used a van to take the Triumph away because there is no way they could have started it as I had taken the battery out,” he said.

Mr Nicholls, who is married to Jenny, hopes someone reading about the theft may spot the bike stored or dumped somewhere.

“I’ve been a biker since I was 16 and loved riding it and used to go on trips to places like Hastings and on the charity Easter Egg runs,” he added.

“I would like to appeal to anyone who thinks they know where it is to get in touch with the police.”

The thieves left the bolt croppers at the scene, which officers will examine as part of their investigation.

Anyone with information about the break-in or bike’s whereabouts should call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/39474/20.

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