Julie and Andrew Clarkson were camping in Shepparton with a group of six couples when their two bikes were stolen from outside their tent overnight on April 2.
The couple and some of their friends had arrived at the Victoria Lake Holiday Park on Thursday, April 1.
On the first night, they slept with their bikes in their tent.
“That night we felt a little uncomfortable because we were so close to the lake,” Mrs Clarkson said.
The day after making the most of Shepparton’s bike paths and going on some rides, they put their bikes against a truck next to their tent.
With a group of their friends now also in their camp, they left their bikes out overnight this time, only to discover them missing in the morning.
The theft put a real dampener on their first visit to Shepparton.
“We’re devastated someone can do something so low,” Mrs Clarkson said.
“It (Shepparton) is not somewhere we want to return to. It’s a pretty horrible feeling.
“It’s a shame, because it’s a really beautiful area.
“We went on some lovely bike rides. There are some great bike paths.”
Mrs Clarkson said she and her husband always took their bikes with them when they camped as they liked to go for rides in places they were visiting.
“It’s a lifestyle choice,” Mrs Clarkson said.
Thefts from their campsite is something new for them.
“In all the years we’ve camped, we’ve left our bikes against trees,” Mrs Clarkson said.
Now, she is just hoping someone may have seen the bikes and they can be returned.
One is a black Lapierre road bike, a brand Mrs Clarkson said was quite rare in Australia.
The other was a white a blue Giant road bike that had a second set of brakes on the top of the handlebars — something Mrs Clarkson said may also stand out to anyone who had seen them.
An electric tyre compressor and both bicycle helmets were also taken with the bikes.
Anyone with information about the theft or who has seen the bikes should contact Leading Senior Constable Lyle Short at Shepparton Police Station on 5820 5777 or email vp35426@police.vic.gov.au
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