ENRAGED residents have blasted thieves for stealing motorbikes which has resulted in some people losing their jobs.

Lee Saunders, 30, from The Fold, in Basildon, who works as a builder, was devastated when his motorbike was stolen.

Mr Saunders said without his bike it has been difficult for him to get to his jobs.

He said: “My bike was stolen two weeks ago. It’s a relatively new bike and only three years old. It cost £2,800.

“Since my bike was stolen, it’s made it very hard for me to get to my jobs. I am a builder and I am hired to do contract jobs in different locations. I ride my bike to work and I’ve missed out on some jobs, which has cost me thousands of pounds.

“Police recovered the bike a few days later after they found it by the Power House shops in Vange.

“The officer attending the scene told me they couldn’t catch the thieves at that time and they took my bike back for forensic testing.

“Several days later the police spotted the suspects riding on another stolen bike and they were caught.”

Mr Saunders still needs to collect his bike from a police yard but fears the thieves have wrecked it.

He said: “I was charged a £150 recovery fee from the police, and there are storage fees to pay too.

“It’s a double-whammy because I’m the victim and I get charged money just to get back something that belongs to me.

“I’m afraid the thieves have wrecked the ignition. When I got home after it was snatched, I saw doughnut circles on my lawn so I think they were trying to do burn outs.

“They must have wrecked the ignition. That’ll cost me £300 for repairs.

“I’ve lived in The Fold for four years and we never had this issue.”

Caryn Joyner, from Basildon, said: “My son lost his job after his bike was nicked. It was stolen just before last Christmas in Laindon when he was at his friend’s place. At the time he worked as a valet but he lost his job as it was hard for him to get to his job.

“He was in an accident before he lost his bike. He was due to go back to work but his bike was stolen, and around the same time he split up with his girlfriend too. He life went downhill as felt he had nothing to live for. He struggled financially, all because some lowlife nicked his bike.

“Luckily he has a job now but he needs to organise lifts.

"It’s been really inconvenient for him.”

Update:

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We are investigating after a motorbike was stolen from an address in The Fold, Basildon. 
"The bike was stolen between October 1, and October 2, and later recovered.
"A number of lines of enquiry are being progressed and we are in contact with the victim." 

Anyone with information is asked to contact us on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111