AT least one bike is stolen in Warrington every day, latest police figures have shown.

Thieves snatched 1,485 push bikes in the town between the start of 2011 and August 31 this year - a total of 1,339 days.

The bikes were worth a total of nearly £350,000, and figures suggest anything from old second hand bikes, to state-of-the-art versions, are being targeted.

The values of looted bikes ranged from £40 - £4,500.

Hot spots for thefts included Orford, with 141 reported incidents and bikes worth £27,219 stolen.

In Fairfield and Howley, 141 bikes were stolen, worth £21,666, while in Poplars and Hulme it was 107, worth £17,521.

The numbers were revealed in our Freedom of Information request to Cheshire Police.

Warrington Central NPU covers the three worst areas. Four arrests have been made by the neighbourhood unit in the last four weeks.

Police say bikes are common targets because they can be sold quickly, often appearing on internet websites within hours of being stolen.

Sgt Paul Flynn, of Warrington Central NPU, said: "When we receive a report of a bike stolen we will investigate.

"We will also deploy a PCSO visit the victim, and offer free bike marking if their bike is recovered, or they purchase a new one.

"We send messages out via social media warning the public to lock their bikes away, and record any serial numbers for identification purposes.

"We also run police operations if we have intelligence or an increase in a particular area. This has lead to some good arrests."

Sgt Flynn added free bike marking events are offered by Cheshire Police.

An insurance company has suggested the number of bikes stolen is actually much higher.

Research by Privilege claims that nationally, three in four thefts went unreported in 2014.

Bike theft victim and charity worker Claire Prach believes the focus must be on prevention - from police, and owners.

Her sentimental bike, previously owned by late husband David, was pilfered while she worked at John Holt Cancer Foundation, Palmyra Square.

She said: "You can appreciate if somebody is murdered police are looking for them and not a bike.

"I think it's important people are helped by police to make bikes secure. The focus needs to be on prevention."