A commuter has become an internet sensation after leaving a note for a "douchebag bike thief".

Aaron Rush, 23, left his bike locked up overnight at the bike rack at the station last Tuesday.

When he returned the next day, the bike had been stolen and the former chemistry student left a note at the bike rack asking the "douchebag thief" to return it.

Mr Rush, who works at SwipeStation, Bridge Road in Hunton Bridge, said: "I reported it to the police straight away. They said it would take four weeks to get the CCTV back. At that point, it is basically pointless them getting it.

"I spoke to Kings Cars (the taxi rank at the station) and apparently this happens once or twice a week. 

"I think it is ridiculous that this occurs so frequently yet the police are doing nothing to change the four week recovery of footage and aren't taking any steps to improve the security of the station."

A section of the letter to the thief read: "Hi there! You stole my bike last night, admittedly, I was kind of ticked off about this, but less so when I realised that you left your face on camera at the station.

"And also you may not have realised but this is not the first bike I’ve had stolen, so I put a tracer inside the bike frame. So unfortunately for you, I know where you live. Please dear bike thief, don’t take this as a threat, I’m sure you had your reasons, I just want my bike back."

Despite the light hearted-tone of the letter which was originally designed to make his friends laugh on Facebook, he hopes it will help other cyclists in the area.

He said: "All I wanted to do was give my mates a laugh on Facebook but if it turns out the thief wasn't a professional, and in fact was just a teenager or something, I wanted to give them a chance to do the right thing. It will also let the other cyclists know there were thieves operating."

Despite these measures, the 23-yearold former Surrey University student said he has not heard from the thief and has lost the "tiny segment of hope" he had of regaining his bike.