Officers halted two teenagers who were having pizza while investigating reports of bicycle theft.

The duo, dressed in dark tracksuits, were at a Banbury pizza outlet when police arrived on Saturday, April 4.

Thames Valley Police had been alerted that juveniles were dismantling bike racks and stealing cycles in Banbury.

A member of the public gave officers CCTV footage of the suspected offenders. Though their faces could not be identified, their shoes proved particularly damning, according to police.

A force representative explained that several hours later, during regular patrols, officers walked past a venue in the town centre and spotted two cycles placed outside and within the building, alongside two youths inside sporting matching footwear to those shown in the CCTV recording.

The officers interrupted their dinner, and the two admitted taking the bicycles. They also tried offering incorrect details, which were swiftly exposed.

It later turned out the boys had been logged as missing from another police force region.

The bicycles were seized and are set to be returned to their rightful owners, while the pair were escorted back to the area where they had been reported missing.

Anyone who recognises the bicycles pictured is asked to call 101 and quote 43260162810.

Anyone able to verify where the bicycles came from can assist officers in reuniting them with their owners.