DETECTIVES investigating the theft of more than £40,000 worth of specialist motorbikes today said they could not rule out a link between two similar thefts which occurred less than half a mile away in the past week.

The latest haul was stolen from a lorry parked in Farrington Close on Tuesday evening, just yards from Burnley's 2Wheel Supermarket motorbike showroom burgled twice in the past seven days. On Thursday, January 10, 80 helmets with a total value of £6,000 were stolen, while detectives investigating the raid believe the same gang returned in the early hours of Monday to steal motorbikes, quad bikes, scooters, helmets, motorbike leathers and other accessories.

The latest robbery took place less than 24 hours later when the driver of an articulated lorry was asleep inside the cab. He was woken and looked out of the side window, where he saw three men wheeling the bikes away.

The Spanish driver was confronted by one of the offenders and stayed in the cab. The bikes were wheeled through a gap in a nearby hedge that leads to a dirt track.

Twelve Montesa Cota 135R/2 bikes were stolen. They are red, white and silver metal and have a retail value of £3,399 each.

Det Sgt Steve Mounsey said: "I believe that the perpetrators are local and we are keeping an open mind on a link between the other robberies.

"The Spanish driver did not speak very good English and we have no descriptions, other than the fact that there were three males. We are appealing for witnesses." Burnley CID can be contacted on 01282 472240.