The orange Puma spikes, which as well as being signed by the Jamaican six-time Olympic champion were framed alongside a photo of the athlete after he set the 100 metres world record in 2009, were stolen in South London.

Scotland Yard said the sporting memorabilia, which were auctioned at Sotheby's in November 2012, were taken from an industrial site on Gloucester Road, Croydon, between April 26 and 28.

Eight-time world champion Bolt tweeted his 3.3 million followers to urge the thief to return the items.

"I know u love me..but please why u had to go stealing that signed Usain Bolt spikes..I know u going to return it. Right?" he wrote.

Usain Bolt tweeted a picture of himself signing another pair of shoes as a replacement for the stolen ones ©Usain Bolt Twitter


Followed by: "Breaking News..All you had to do was just ask me for one..No need to go stealing the ppl things..Come on now."

He then tweeted a photograph of himself signing a new pair of shoes to send to London as a replacement.

"Only natural I sign sum spikes after one of my overly excited fan stole that one..FedEx straight to London later," he said.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious, or who knows the whereabouts of the item, or has been offered it to purchase to contact DC Sheree Yates at the Croydon CID on +44 (0) 203 276 2287 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on +44 (0) 800 555 111.

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