Police were ordered not to chase thieves roaring away on stolen motorbikes – because the villains were not wearing crash helmets.

Officers saw three crooks fleeing on high-powered bikes worth £20,000. But instead of giving chase, they had to watch them ride off into the distance due to fears over the thieves’ safety.

Police chiefs say the officers followed the correct protocol and have defended their actions following the raid at the Manchester Motorbike Store in Woodfield Road, Altrincham.

But Sale West MP Graham Brady said: "I am astonished that the welfare of criminals in the act of breaking the law should be put before the public’s expectation that criminals should be apprehended when the opportunity presents. I expect most police officers would be deeply frustrated not to be allowed to pursue criminals because of health and safety issues of this sort."

Store owner Tony Crawford, of Carrington Lane, Sale, said: "Police told me that they had seen them speed off, but that they don’t give chase to people on bikes as it is too dangerous.

"It seems strange that they can’t chase these people when they’re right there in front of them, and obviously if they had I might have my bikes back.

Chris Burrows, chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation, said: "The officers behaved in accordance with force policy. Police officers find situations like this incredibly frustrating but they have to act in accordance with force policy and had they done any different, they would have been severely criticised."

The officers spotted the criminals fleeing the scene on a Yamaha R1, a Honda 1000 Fireblade and a Honda CBR 600.

They contacted their duty inspector for guidance but after learning none of the suspects was wearing helmets and safety equipment he ordered them not to pursue.

Supt Steve Nibloe said: "When police officers attended to this incident, suspects were seen driving off on motorbikes. The officers were asked not to pursue the suspects as they were not wearing the correct safety equipment and were not wearing helmets, so it is clear to me the correct decision was taken. Detectives are pursuing a number of positive leads around this burglary as part of their thorough investigation, which is ongoing."

Police said they were keeping an open mind over whether the incident was linked with a £38,000 raid at the Ducati Manchester store in Cross Street, Sale, seven weeks ago.

More than £25,000 of clothing and three bikes worth a combined £12,000 were stolen during the raid on June 27.