“I could not be more grateful to Dorset Police and the officers involved with the recovery of my stolen bike from my place of work,” said victim Adam Wright, a university demonstrator.

The Cannondale pedal bike had been left secured to a bike stand outside the Bournemouth University Talbot Campus on the morning of 18 November using a key-operated bike lock.

A hacksaw was used to cut the lock before the offender attempted to cycle off from the campus.

Two passing officers noticed him and believed he was acting suspiciously. As they approached, he attempted to make off and was stopped nearby on Gillett Road, where he was arrested on suspicion of theft.

The victim was traced as he had registered his bike through the Bike Register Scheme and the bicycle was returned to him.

The offender was subsequently charged and appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 15 December 2021, where he was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a drug rehabilitation requirement and a rehabilitation activity requirement. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95.

“Without the diligence and the police officers’ instinct I doubt I would have seen my bike again,” said Adam, “thankfully the bike was registered with the police and was returned to me before I had even realised it had been stolen.

”I use my bike every day to travel to and from work as well as for exercise so I would have been very upset if I had lost it.”

Inspector Danny Tamblyn, of Bournemouth police, said: “These officers responded using their instincts and successfully apprehended the offender.

“Thanks to their swift response we were able to return the much-valued bike to the grateful owner.”