Burglars in raid on Yapton Scouts headquarters

The raiders took at least three full or partly-full 15kg butane gas cylinders after they severed the feed pipes to the headquarters of 1st Yapton and Ford Scouts in Drove Lane.

They also removed both wing mirrors from the group's minibus parked in the compound.

New mirrors will have to be fitted by tonight (Thursday, March 5) to ensure the group's ten Explorer Scouts can go climbing as usual.

Group scout leader Andy Jones said he estimated the cost of replacing the stolen items to be 250-300.

"Stealing and causing damage to a charity's property must be one of the lowest acts a person can sink to.

"This is money that has to be found out of our limited funds," he stated. "The kids pay 2 a week to be members of the group.

"The rest of our finances come from fundraising and donations which, at the moment, are hard to come by. However, we will make sure the kids don't lose out. But the volunteers have now got to find the time to carry out the repairs."

The break-in happened between the evening of February 28 and March 1. It was the fourth time in 16 years the gas bottles have been stolen.

The headquarters has a propane gas supply to power the cooker, while the butane is taken for camping trips.

But the supply has to be reconnected with new parts because the burglars cut the feed pipes into the building.

Replacement gas cylinders will have to be bought as well and filled, causing the final cost to mount up.

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