Bike stolen from outside man's house in Winklebury

James Smith came home from work on Monday, July 22, to find his bike, a Silver Boardman, had been stolen in broad daylight. The bike, made for downhill cycling, is worth a £1,000.

He said: "I just finished work, so I wasn't in the greatest of moods, and we have only lived in Basingstoke for a year but we've always spoken nicely about it as an area.

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The stolen bike, a silver Boardman (Image: James Smith)

"We have been privately renting and to know that I've finally paid my bike off and it's been stolen, it's soul-crushing and disheartening."

The Winklebury resident explained that he lives on a private walk, meaning that to access the bike, which was stolen from underneath his bedroom window, you would have to go through a series of locks.

"It was there in the morning, so they have done it in broad daylight, it's just the cheek of it," added James.

The 26-year-old lives with his partner, Kenzie Muir, who is studying at the Royal Veterinary College in London with ambitions to become a vet.

James worked as a chef but has recently left his job to open up a sports bar in the town centre later this year.

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Gizmo, a Shorkie (Image: James Smith)

He said that after working 'all the time' he had saved up enough to cover two months' rent, and was planning to spend one month as 'nice family time, cycling around with the dog'.

The couple's dog, a Shorkie named Gizmo, frequently accompanied James on bike rides.

He continued: "When me and the blokes meet up and go out on bike, to the pub, I go on the bike with Giz. That was my thing.

"The bike was part of me, it's part of my daily lifestyle. It's just put me in a piece of mind where I genuinely don't want another bike, I just want my bike back. When I'm on it, it's a lot less dangerous for him [Gizmo]."