THE WORST Buckinghamshire places for bike theft have been revealed.

Ending up a victim of theft is gut-wrenching, especially when losing a beloved bike you will most likely never see again.

New figures have revealed the top 10 worst places for cyclists to leave their bikes in the county, and the rate of thefts is shocking. 

The top worst spot was Kents Hill, Monkston and Brinklow in Milton Keynes with 51 reported bike thefts, giving it a theft rate of 6.01, the research by cycling coaching programme Thighs Club and crimerate.co.uk revealed.

They said cyclists should exercise “extreme caution” when leaving their bikes in this part of the county.

Milton Keynes recorded a staggering 490 bike thefts, but it was only third based on the theft rate of 2.65.

Princes Risborough took the fifth spot and Gerrards Cross seventh with a theft rate of 1.55.

Buckinghamshire overall had an average bicycle theft rate of 1.17 per 1,000 people in 2022.

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With zero reported bicycle thefts, Hazlemere, Hughenden and Wendover are the safest areas in Bucks to leave a bike.  

Beaconsfield made the top 10 safest rating with five recorded thefts and a rating of 0.39. 

Here are the rankings for worst (and best) places for bike safety.

Founder of Thighs Club and former British cyclist Alex Dowsett said: "As an elite cyclist who depends on my bike, seeing the bicycle thefts across Buckinghamshire is truly disheartening.

He continued: “My advice to fellow riders worried about theft - invest in quality locks, including a sturdy U-lock paired with a cable for securing both wheels and the frame. Register your bike on databases like BikeRegister and Immobilise. Don't leave it unattended for long stretches. And check if your home insurance covers bicycle theft."