A WEYMOUTH man has been left devastated after the motorbike he bought to celebrate his retirement was stolen from outside his home in a quiet cul-de-sac.

Michael Woodsford, who lives at Grafton Avenue, Southill, believes his 2019 Yamaha MT 09 SP motorbike, worth around £8,000, may have been stolen to order, as thieves would need sophisticated technology to start the engine without a key.

The theft happened overnight between 11pm and 8am, November 11-12.

Mr Woodsford said: "The wind was really strong that night - I looked out of my window at about 11pm and saw the cover had blown off the bike in our front garden - but it was secured with a padlock and chain.

"When we woke up the next morning, I said to my wife, 'I'll just check the bike is still there' - and it had gone.

"The chain had been cut and nicely curled on one side to keep it quiet - we only sleep about 20ft away from where it's parked as we live a bungalow. In a quiet cul-de-sac you just don't expect it."

Mr Woodsford hopes to raise awareness to prevent further thefts.

"I purchased the motorcycle last year to celebrate my retirement and to keep in contact and socialise with friends," he said.

"Being brutal, it is only a material thing and could have been an awful lot worse - it's insured - but I'm not sure now whether I will replace it, as it was so easily stolen from a quiet cul-de-sac and I don't want to supply the thieves with another bike."

Attempts to find CCTV footage or witnesses have unfortunately proven unsuccessful so far.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We received a report at 9.11am on Thursday November 12 that a Yamaha motorcycle had been stolen in Grafton Avenue in Weymouth.

"It was reported that the vehicle had been left secured and had been taken some time between 11pm on Wednesday November 11 and 8am on Thursday November 12.

"Officers have been carrying out enquiries into the matter but no arrests have been made. We would always advise members of the public to keep motorcycles in a secure location when not in use and security mark as many parts as possible with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)."

For prevention advice visit www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/home-property/vehicle-crime-removeitlockit/

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55200170516.