TWO teenagers have been arrested in connection with a string of robberies targeting boys as they cycled home from school.

The pair, aged 15 and 16, were arrested in Warrington on suspicion of robbery yesterday, Thursday.

They have since been released under investigation.

Boys aged as young as 12 have been robbed of their bikes as they cycled home from school in areas including Orford, Latchford, Woolston, Birchwood and Old Hall in recent weeks.

Two teenagers had their bicycles taken by a pair of offenders wearing balaclavas on Cromwell Avenue shortly after 3pm on January 21, with one of the victims being kicked by their attackers.

A 12-year-old was then attacked on the footpath between Brock Road and Dewhurst Road shortly after 3pm on February 3, with two robbers taking his mountain bike and punching him in the head.

Masked men targeted a teen on Brickfields Park at 4.30pm the same day.

Two more schoolboys were cycling home from school on Mersey Walk at around 3.15pm on February 4 when they were chased by two offenders and attacked.

And a 15-year-old boy then had his bike and watched stolen after being attacked by a robber wearing a balaclava in Woolston Park on February 7.

Cheshire Police have launched a dedicated investigation, Operation Sovereigns, in connection with the attacks.

Patrols of uniformed and plain clothes officers have been stepped up in the town ‘in key areas’ at home times.

And high school pupils were even warned not to travel home alone, instead being advised to stay in groups and to avoid taking shortcuts through parks and alleyways.