Thieves put lives at risk

THIEVES have placed lives in jeopardy by stealing vital Coastguard equipment used to spot boats and swimmers in distress.

THIEVES have placed lives in jeopardy by stealing vital Coastguard equipment used to spot boats and swimmers in distress.

Crooks broke into the Coastguard cliff top lookout , above West Beach, Newhaven, and stole high-powered binoculars used to scour the coastline.

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Newhaven Coastguard station officer Trevor Cutler said: 'A pair of irreplaceable large Second World War binoculars were stolen. They were seized from German bases along the French coast and donated to the Coastguard after the war.'

For decades they had been used by Coastguard volunteers to pinpoint emergencies at sea. 'If there is an emergency we go straight up to the lookout and use the high powered lenses to direct the Lifeboat or helicopter,' said Mr Cutler.

The binoculars were mounted on a podium and had been chained to the wall ever since they were stolen once before, about four years ago.

At the time the Sussex Express ran an appeal for their safe return and they were anonymously left at the Coastguard station.

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Mr Cutler urged anyone who knew of their whereabouts to come forward. He added: 'We use them all the time so it really is an absolute catastrophe.

'It is just unbelievable. Whoever stole them is putting lives at risk for something which has no real financial value or use to them at all.'

The Second World War binoculars, and another smaller hand held pair, were stolen overnight on Saturday. Crooks cut down a fence and kicked in a door to the lookout tower.

It is believed they would have taken some time to cut through the chains to steal the binoculars.

Readers with any information about the theft or who saw anybody behaving suspiciously in the area can call police on 0845 6070999.

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