Beach huts: targeted again

BEACH huts were damaged and property stolen when vandals struck again this week.

15 huts near Pages Avenue, South Cliff, were broken into between 7pm on Monday and 7am the following morning. One owner put a conservative estimate of the damage done at "over two thousand pounds, easily."

The attacks follow earlier incidents in which six beach huts next to Bexhill Sailing Club were destroyed by fire on June 2 and six more half a mile east of Galley Hill burned down in the early hours of Wednesday, April 8.

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Lee Dunn bought his hut in South Cliff four years ago from a freehold for 16,000. He estimates 150 damage was done this week, and will need new locks and a replacement for the bottom of his door.

Lee said: "I've secured the huts temporarily. We are quite annoyed that the police response is that they will send someone "today or tomorrow". Meanwhile if I hadn't secured up the properties, more damage might have been done tonight.

"When they first started ransacking them the damage is quite severe inside. It got less and less as they went on.

"I would encourage owners not to leave anything of value in them.

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Ronald Winskell is another beach hut owner. The iron bar across the front of his hut was broken along with three locks. The hut was then ransacked.

He said: "It's disgusting. Obviously this has become a major crime in Bexhill...there were beach huts burned down near the sailing club a few weeks ago, and a month or so ago the one next to mine, number 8, was vandalised when people having a barbecue just broke up the beach hut and put it on the fire."

Bexhill beach huts are controlled by various parties, meaning there is no one place for owners to register their details.

Coastal Officer Steve Benn, based in the colonnade, said: "Unfortunately the beach huts along South Cliff are privately owned and not on public land. The only people to register with are the police.

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"Our ones are the first twenty along west parade, the next group belong to the kiosk, and the ones at the far end on the east parade are owned by the leaseholder."

"For everyone who has damage to their beach huts the first port of call is the police."

Lee Dunn has begun to establish a databse of owners contact details.

He said: "If anyone spots damage done to the huts, this gives them a focal point. They can ring through and say number four or twelve has been damaged, and we can contact the owners.

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"Some people don't live next to their huts and until they come down they don't know anything has happened."

Acting Inspector Dan Russell of Bexhill Police said police were still receiving calls from owners of the beach huts.

He said: "Police are investigating the damage to the beach huts. Scenes of crime have been attended and we are hopeful for forensic evidence. Patrols will be increased in the area."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Trish Reeve-Fowkes, quoting reference number 283 or 30/06/09

Those interested in Lee's scheme to establish a focal point can contact him on 07958666757.