A BIKE hire shop says it has been put "out of business" after thieves stole more than £25,000 worth of cycling equipment in a late night raid.
Rostrevor Mountain Bike Centre, one of the north's top mountain bike facilities, was hit by what appears to have been a well-organised gang operation and the business is now facing a struggle to survive.
The centre provides bike hire and tuition for its challenging trails around the hills of Kilbroney Park at the edge of the Mournes as well as training for young riders.
At around 1.30am on Monday thieves managed to gain access to the bike store with CCTV footage showing four people removing the bikes and equipment from the centre.
In total upwards of 20 bikes were stolen, along with a range of kit and accessories.
The stolen bikes are described as Nukeproof Scouts and Trek 8.5s and 4300s and all are custom made, costing as much as £3,000 each.
The directors of Rostrevor Mountain Bike Centre, which employs four full-time staff have been left "devastated".
"We're now left with a business with no stock and while you always have insurance you never have enough to replace your stock completely," said Jennifer Cunningham, one of the company directors.
Speaking to the Irish News yesterday she was in the process of contacting customers to cancel bookings, ahead of what was due to be a sold-out weekend.
Ian Cumming, another of the company's directors said the firm has now lost the ability to remain in business.
"The backbone of our business is bike hire, especially during the busy summer season, we're basically out of business, we can't hire. We were fully booked this weekend, with people coming in from Scotland and a number of people coming from Wales. Really 70 per cent of the business is gone and I haven't got a solution for it at the moment, but we're working through that. It's a nightmare."
Mr Cumming said locally there has been an increase in bike thefts and suspects the stolen bikes are being shipped further afield.
"My thought is there a buyer somewhere waiting for a big delivery of bikes," he added.
The PSNI is currently investigating the incident and officers have made an appeal for information.
