BICYCLES worth a total of more than £1.5 million have been stolen from railway stations in Britain in the last year, police have revealed.

British Transport Police said 5,318 bikes were taken by thieves between April 2013 and March this year – the equivalent of 14 a day.

The total number stolen from stations in England, Wales and Scotland was 3.6 per cent higher than the previous financial year.

Some 1,381 suspects were arrested over the 12-month period, BTP said, as it launched a nationwide campaign to tackle bicycle theft.

Officers believe criminals are exploiting the rising popularity of commuting by bike in the UK.

Superintendent Jason Bunyard, who oversees Operation Wiggins, said: “Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in passengers using bikes to travel to and from railway stations.

“Following continued investment in cycle racks and spaces for bikes on trains, events such as the Tour de France, and with people being more conscious of the environment and their health, there has been a huge surge in their popularity.

“Unfortunately, This has also provided increased opportunities for thieves due to bikes being relatively easy to steal and dispose of, bikes sadly remain an attractive target for thieves.

“More bikes stolen will lead to an increase in insurance claims resulting in higher premiums. for everyone”

The majority of bikes stolen from the railway network in 2013/14 were not secured correctly or had substandard locks, BTP said.

They are urging cyclists to invest in a good-quality lock and make sure their bike is security-marked and registered.

Mr Bunyard said: “Thieves need to operate quickly to reduce their chances of being caught; having a heavy-duty lock makes their job much more difficult and they are more likely to abandon any attempt to steal your bike.

“It’s quite surprising that someone would spend over £1,000 on a bike then use a £5 lock to secure it. We would always recommend spending at least 10 per cent of the value of the bike on an appropriate lock.”

Earlier this year three men were jailed for stealing more than 500 bikes from railway stations and other public places across London and Hertfordshire.

Their spoils had an estimated value of £74,000.