MOPED and motorcycle owners in a city are being warned to be on their guard, after the number of vehicle thefts soared in recent weeks.

Last month, ten machines were stolen in Huntington and New Earswick, York, compared with only one or two in a typical month.

PC Paul Beckwith, neighbourhood police officer for the area, said: "You get groups looking for mopeds to steal, then they ride them around and then dump them.

"The majority of the bikes have been found fairly quickly and most are damaged with the locks being smashed."

He advised owners to fit a combined alarm and immobiliser, park the vehicle in a garage or well-lit area and secure it to an immovable object.