THIEVES may be waiting at popular mountain biking spots in the Dean to target expensive bikes to steal.

This warning comes from police after three mountain bikes worth more than £10,000 were stolen from a house in Drybrook.

Promising downhill mountain bike rider James Whitby had his sporting career derailed after thieves took his £6,000 black Santa Cruz V-10 bike.

The 16-year-old Hartpury College student also lost GCSE coursework stored on a laptop which was stolen from the family home.

The thieves also took his parents' mountain bikes along with a jacket, cash, an Xbox and an iPod.

His mum Kerry said mountain biking was a big part of her family's life and the cost of replacing the bikes would be more than £10,000.

"James eats, sleeps and breathes bikes," she said.

"He came second in a big race at Cannop last year and 2011 was supposed to be a big year for him.

"We have house insurance but, looking at the small print, I don't know if that is going to cover it.

"We're just hoping the bikes may turn up again and we may offer a reward for their return."

His parent's bikes are a Specialized Demo 8 with yellow rimmed wheels and a black and white Kona Stinky.

James's dad Kevin said he was told that thieves were following the owners of expensive bikes home and later targeting these properties in burglaries.

Police spokesman Chris Jackson confirmed this was a line of inquiry that officers were following.

Kerry said it wasn't clear yet how much coursework James, who is studying Land-based Engineering, had lost after the break-in last Wednesday.

Two men from Cheltenham, aged 22 and 23, were arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with the theft. They have been given bail until February 23.