twice in one day.

Police tracked his Honda Scoopy, stolen from outside his Harbour Road residence last week, to Southampton.

A good Samaritan who found the bike agreed to secure it in his yard until its overjoyed owner arrived.

But in the time it took to get there -- the bike had been stolen again. This week the owner of the bike, who did not wish to be named, slammed bike theft as having reached "epidemic proportions''.

"It's completely out of control,'' he said. "For those who think their bikes are safe locked at home -- they're not.

"If you have a bike that's popular, they'll take it,'' he said.

But, he said the crime spree did not stop there.

The same day his bike disappeared, two neighbours who lived half a mile away discovered their Honda Scoopys had disappeared from their yard.

Three days later, thieves targeted the home of the man's brother-in-law, also a resident of Warwick, making off with his Honda Scoopy.

He particularly warned Warwick residents to keep an eye on their bikes and to secure them to something solid. The thieves probably used trucks, he said.

"It's got to the point now that when you're buying a bike, the first decision you make is which make of bike is least likely to be stolen,'' he said.

"When $3 million dollars worth of bikes go missing in a year it means the question of security has to be looked at.

"The Police say so many bikes are being stolen, that although they feel they're doing the best they can, they're fighting a losing battle.'' Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning admitted bikes are still being stolen at "a steady rate''.

"Last year was the worst on record and nothing seems to have slowed down,'' he said.

But he said Warwick did not stand out as a "hot spot'' for bike theft which he said was Island-wide.

He added that while certain makes of bike were popular among thieves, Honda Scoopys did not appear to be targeted more than others.

"All types seem to go,'' he said.

Bike owners should keep their vehicles locked at all times, using a Kryptonite on the rear wheel taking in the shock absorbers, he reminded.

"Despite the fact we have an epidemic, it is amazing how often I see bikes left unlocked with the Kryptonites in the basket.

"The only way to cut it down it is to lock bikes with a Kryptonite every time. Handlebar locks are not that good, although they are better than nothing,'' he said.

Police reports show 15 bikes were stolen over the weekend.