Bungling thieves were arrested after trying to steal a bike near Wimbledon police station.
Two men were spotted by officers trying to break the lock on a chained-up bike within metres of the station on Queen’s Road, at 11.05pm on Saturday.
A third man, who had been acting as a lookout, was arrested later.
Officers from the Dundonald safer neighbourhoods team (SNT) said they searched the trio’s homes and found bolt cutters and five other bicycles thought to have been stolen.
Sergeant Jeff New of Dundonald SNT urged bike owners to do more to stop thieves.
He said: “A pedal cycle lock will deter opportunistic thieves.
"Using more than one lock will make stealing your cycle even harder.
“Weak locks are unlikely to deter offenders.”
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