Thieves stole my new bike

NO BIKE: Francis Ranginui, 13, holds the smashed lock he found when he returned to the railings where he left his new bicycle.PHOTO/ BEVAN CONLEY 250515WCBRCBIK02

Francis Ranginui is just one victim caught up in a spate of bike thefts in Wanganui.

His shiny new bike was stolen from railings while he was visiting the Whanganui Regional Museum on Sunday.

Francis came to live in Wanganui this year for his secondary schooling.

Last year he was a pupil at Te Wainui a Rua Kura on the Whanganui River. He's now living with his mother, Morania Solomon-Broughton, and going to Wanganui City College.

She bought him a $500 bike on time payment, so he could ride to school from her house in Aramoho.

The payments have finished, but the bike was not insured.

It was a Trek Volt Green mountain bike, the best he had ever had, said his mother.

Francis said it was "mean".

His mum said he looked after his bike really well. Whoever stole it had to smash an expensive lock.

She's taken the matter to Whanganui Police, where she was told a number of bicycles have been stolen from the central city recently.

Anyone who knows anything about the theft is asked to contact Whanganui Police or you can anonymously call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 with information.