Thieves who ram-raided a Penryn business early this morning are estimated to have caused £20,000 worth of damage.

It is believed a car was used to smash through the doors and security fence at Top Gear Electric Bikes in Commercial Road, before the thieves got away with a bike worth £4,000.

Co-owner Mandy Rolleston was woken by a phone call at 5am from a passing security guard who had stopped because he had seen it had been rammed.

Falmouth Packet:

Photo: Top Gear 

She told the Packet: "What we think happened is they either hired or stole a car and reversed into the doors twice.

"It's knocked all the frame and all the security shutters out.

"Then they couldn't get in, so they reached in and took one of the bikes."

The business has only been in its current location for three months, having relocated from across the road. It has been in Penryn six years altogether.

Falmouth Packet:

Photo: Top Gear 

"All our staff work very hard and we put a lot of effort in to getting this place up and running.

"It's just so disappointing. Some people think they have the right to smash in our door and cause £20,000 worth of damage. It's not right," she added.

"People need to have a social conscience and they just don't have it." 

Mandy said police have taken away an item of clothing believed to have been left by the thief or thieves.

She and partner Peter Williams, who owns the business, are now there with staff clearing the mess and boarding up the broken doors and windows.

The shop remains open today, via the side door.

The bike that was stolen was a 2019 red Focus Paralane2 9.6, although the thieves neglected to take a charger. However, the bike does have a tracker. 

Falmouth Packet:

The bike that was stolen

Police were unable to give any out of hours information, as it was no longer a live log. 

Anyone with information about the theft or who saw or heard anything suspicious in Commercial Road last night should call police on 101, reference 210 of July 27, 2019.