Kit theft stuns BMX bike club

Items stolen include a Honda 5.5KVA generator, a compressor, strimmer, wacker plates, safety helmets and a white BMX bike, together worth some £2,000.

Club chairman Robin Higley said: “It’s heartbreaking. We’ve worked hard to build up our resources and at a stroke we’ve lost pretty well all of it. This is going to hit a lot of youngsters just as the new season gets under way and has undermined all the effort we have put into the club.”

Bexhill Burners was founded in 1982 and since then has built up a good relationship with the local community, giving youngsters something positive to do, to enjoy and to take pride in, as well as accommodating older members, too.

Mr Higley’s son, George, is ranked sixth in the British BMX hierachy and club members compete all over the country.

He added: “This break-in has put us back to square one and we’re virtually out of things until we can replace what we’ve lost. I’m absolutely gutted.”

The theft is thought to have taken place between Monday and Wednesday afternoon this week, when club members found high-tensile padlocks had been circumvented to break into the container.

Mr Higley said: “It must have taken the thieves quite a while, because even when they had got in, some of the items they took were extremely heavy and appear to have been manhandled over a fence into a waiting van or truck.

“Police are investigating, and if anyone saw anything suspicious or is offered items of the kind we’ve lost, we’d be extremely grateful if they would report it immediately.”

Jimmy Carroll, Mayor of Bexhill and a Sidley businessman, said: “I second that. We’re trying to raise standards within the local community and this sort of thing cannot be tolerated. I hope those responsible can be caught and brought to justice.”

Sussex Police can be contacted on 0845 60 70 999 or details can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.