Dwayne Caines, the City of Hamilton chief operating officer, thanked the community this morning after a man who stole his bike returned the vehicle.

Mr Caines posted on Facebook that the man, whose picture was made public in connection with the theft yesterday, had brought the bike back “without a scratch on it” and had apologised, saying “he did not realise it was my bike when he took it”.

The bike was stolen from behind City Hall in Hamilton between 9.30 and 9.55am.

Police subsequently released a photograph of a man wanted over the theft. Mr Caines said the man had been “inundated with people telling him whose bike it was”.

A police spokesman said: “The complainant stated the bike was locked and left in what was thought to be a safe space.”

A blue rain suit and a grey helmet were stored inside the bike.

The man was said to be light skinned and about 5ft 8in tall.

He was wearing a black rain jacket, grey or khaki-coloured pants, blue sneakers and a blue helmet.

Police also appealed for witnesses.