Bolt pleads for return of shoes

Usain Bolt sprinted in to action to demand that thieves return a signed pair of his running shoes worth £20,000.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist told his 3.31 million Twitter followers : “I know u love me..but please why u had to go stealing that signed Usain Bolt spikes in Croydon, England..I know u going to return it. Right?”

I know u love me..but please why u had to go stealing that signed Usain Bolt spikes in Croydon, England..I know u going to return it. Right?

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) May 6, 2014

He later posted a picture of himself signing a new pair of hi-tech green and blue trainers with the promise that they are now on their way to London to replace the stolen shoes.

Breaking News..All you had to do was just ask me for one..No need to go stealing the ppl things..Come on now.. pic.twitter.com/9kapTKbNyM

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) May 6, 2014

Scotland Yard said the stolen orange Puma shoes, which were framed for display with a photo of the Jamaican star after he set a world record in 2009, are valued at around £20,000.

Only natural I sign sum spikes after one of my overly excited fan stole that one..FedEx straight to London later pic.twitter.com/j6brJuT1E5

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) May 6, 2014

Burglars took them from commercial premises on an industrial estate in Gloucester Road, Croydon, south London, between 10.30pm on April 26 and 5.30am on April 28.

Bolt, who won three gold medals at both the Beijing and London Olympics, added: “Breaking News..All you had to do was just ask me for one..No need to go stealing the ppl things..Come on now..

“Only natural I sign sum spikes after one of my overly excited fan stole that one..FedEx straight to London later”.

Police urged anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, or who knew the whereabouts of the shoes, or who had been offered them to buy, to contact Detective Constable Sheree Yates at Croydon CID on 0203 276 2287 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.