THE owners of a family business have vowed not to be deterred by thieves after they were targeted for the fifth time in a year.

Over the past 12 months Dave and Sarah Garland have suffered at the hands of raiders who have stolen about £40,000 worth of children's motorbikes that they sell at their Fareham shop.

The couple have only been in business since last December but were attacked just weeks after opening and since then the pattern has continued.

Mr Garland, who runs South Coast Racing on Spurlings Industrial Estate, said: "It is getting ridiculous and each time it happens my insurance premium goes up.

"Not only is it the cost of the lost bikes but also we have to foot the bill for the repairs as a result of the break-ins."

"We have taken all the security precautions we can but at the end of the day if they are determined enough they will get in."

In the latest raid bikes worth £10,000 were hauled through the roof along with crash helmets by thieves who struck in the early hours of Friday morning.

Mr Garland said: "They seemed determined to get in. We park a lorry across the entrance now to deter them and it looks like they tried to move that before jumping on to the roof.

"It is seriously getting to the point where we are turning up for work and wondering what we will find. I mean they must have really wanted those bikes to lift them through the roof."

In the past, Mr and Mrs Garland, who decided to turn their love of motorcycles into a business venture last year, have even offered cash rewards to encourage people with information to come forward.

Mr Garland added: "Sometimes we just wonder what we are going to find next but we will never pack it all in."

Anyone with information can contact Fareham police on 0845 045 4545.