Steyning family's sentimental motorbikes stolen meaning children will miss out on racing dream

Heartless thieves snatched motorbikes and quad bikes from a storage container at Golding Barn Raceway, between Upper Beeding and Small Dole, last weekend. The theft is believed to have taken place between Saturday night and early Sunday morning (October 22/23).

The vehicles belonged to James and Hannah Harris and were regularly used by their three young children, aged four, five and six. The family is passionate about motocross, and two of the children were planning to compete in racing competitions.

An ‘absolutely devastated’ James took to social media after the thefts, writing: “The tears shed from the kids this morning were enough to fill the ocean.”

James told SussexWorld that his six-year-old son competed in his first race earlier this year and ‘wanted to do the whole Championship next year’.

"That’s what the plan was but I haven’t got the money to be replacing them,” he said. “It’s probably eight to nine thousand pounds worth of bikes stolen.

"In the current climate, I won’t be replacing any of them.

"The girls love it, it’s their little thing and they can take their friends out after school. Both of my daughters have been riding since the age of three.

"It’s in their blood. It’s been in my family for years. We’ve owned that estate for 70 years.

"Someone has come onto our land and taken something we can’t replace. It just makes you wonder why.”

Hannah, who had to break the news to her children, said the people responsible are ‘the lowest of the low’, adding: "It's gutting, really.

"It’s just kids stuff. That’s what I can’t get my head around.

"They were just heartbroken, crying. I had to turn it into, ‘we will do our best to get them back’.

"They wanted to start racing next year and now they can’t.”

James said the thieves cut through the fences to the property and broke into what he thought was a secure container – protected by CCTV cameras – and rode them over the fields to the footpath that leads up to Mill Hill Car Park.

"I assume they loaded them into a vehicle to get them away,” James said. “They knew what they were going for and took all four bikes (2022 Husky FC50, 2020 Yamaha PW50, Suzuki LT50 and a Suzuki LT80).

“I’m not sure how they managed to get them to the top of Mill Hill.

"It’s a really steep valley. You struggle walking up there. It’s a hell of a challenge but they did it.

“There’s been a lot of shares on social media. We would happily give £1,000 to anyone who can let us know where they are and help us get them back. Someone else we don’t know has offered £1,000 so there’s a £2,000 reward up for grabs if someone can help.”

Sussex Police said officers received a report that four children's motocross bikes were stolen from a property on Henfield Road.

A spokesperson added: “Officers are investigating and anyone with any relevant information is asked to report it online, or via calling 101, quoting serial 255 of 25/10.”

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