A Colchester man reported his motorcycle stolen only to find out the next day it had been burnt out and dumped. 

Jake Cressy discovered his bike was missing after finishing a shift at the Rovers Tye Pub in Ipswich Road on October 20. 

When he left for the night his motorcycle, a black Lexmoto Michigan 125cc, had been stolen from outside the pub. 

“One of my mates, the colleagues there, they turned around and said ‘Is Jake already gone’ and then I came around the corner, saying 'What do you mean, I'm here’ and then went outside and saw my bike was missing," he said. 

He immediately contacted the police and reported the issue but found out the next morning it had been destroyed. 

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“When I woke up the next day around 9 am, I had a message saying they found my bike and it had been set ablaze," Mr Cressy said. 

“For the past two or three months I have been hearing that bike thefts are getting worse and worse. 

“I think it is a movement, people are stealing bikes more often. I think it is because they are trying to get money out of them.” 

Mr Cressy believes the attack had been planned, not personally against him but to take the bike and destroy it. 

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“Three years of hard work trying to get the money for the bike, it is all down the drain now," he said and admitted he is worried about getting a new bike. 

Mr Cressy said he was looking at new ways to protect his property if he gets another bike. 

A spokesman of Essex Police said: "We are appealing for any witnesses or dashcam footage which will help our investigation into a stolen motorcycle which was reported to have taken place at the car park of The Rovers Tye, Ipswich Road, Colchester at about 11.30 pm on Friday 20 October.

"It was found damaged nearby on Saturday 21 October. The motorbike was a black Lexmoto, part registration EK71.

"If you have any information or dash cam footage then please get in contact with us. Please quote crime reference 42/188988/23."

The staff at the Rover Tye Pub is currently hosting a raffle to support Mr Cressy and help him finance a replacement vehicle. 

The pub hopes to raise awareness of bike thefts and tickets for the raffle can be bought at the pub. 

Essex Police was contacted for comment by the Gazette.