The craze for “hoverboards” could make young people a target for thieves, a parent has warned.

A mother from Cedar Hill, Warwick, whose 14-year-old son was robbed of his expensive Christmas gift has called for parents to be extra vigilant.

Requesting not to be named, she said her son had gone on just his second outing on the battery-powered board on Tuesday evening last week.

Shortly after 6pm, as he returned uphill, two young men on a motorcycle came and snatched the device.

“He was not riding it; he had just picked it up,” the woman said.

“This is a heavy toy, but they just came up and yanked it off him.”

The bike went down to Middle Road and drove off. The family subsequently reported the incident to police.

“He could have been hurt — if he had actually been on the board and someone decided to grab it, he could have been hurt badly.

“I would ask for parents to keep an extra eye on their children when they are out and about.”

The hoverboard is white-coloured, and the family have asked for anyone with information to contact them at lesmith@northrock.bm