prized possession -- a 1963 Triumph motorcycle -- was stolen this week.

Yesterday a delighted Mr. Anthony Amaral announced his bike had been found -- thanks to a Royal Gazette reader who spotted the bike hidden near her home and reported it to the Police.

Mr. Amaral said the bike is in good condition except that thieves removed the licence plate and tampered with the ignition.

Otherwise, he aims to have it back on the road as soon as he can.

Nevertheless, he is heeding Police advice to vintage bike owners that they take special precautions to secure their vehicles.

Mr. Amaral said he will be buying an automatic bike alarm and locking the garage from where the bike was stolen overnight on Wednesday.

He said a Smith's Parish woman became suspicious of a strange bike parked behind her house.

When it matched the description of the bike in Friday's paper, she contacted a Policewoman friend who investigated the matter.

Then a friend of Mr. Amaral called to say he spotted the bike in the back of a Police truck.

"I called the Police first thing in the morning but they said there was nothing logged in their computer. My hopes were dashed,'' he said.

But hours later the Police called back to say the bike was indeed his.

"I am very pleased. I'm going to double lock it from now on with a special alarm lock, he said, adding: "I'm also getting a bigger dog!'' Although the bike will not be ready in time for the weekly Triumph Motor Cycle Owners Club meeting tomorrow, Mr. Amaral expects to have it re-licensed and back on the road by early next week.

"I am just very happy,'' he said.