LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT STOLEN FROM CLEETHORPES BEACH AGAIN

THROWBAG TAKEN AND CASING VANDALISED

ANOTHER lifeline to rescue people in the River Humber has been stolen from Cleethorpes beach.

Beach safety officers found the throwbag missing and the housing case damaged while on patrol yesterday morning. Nearby CCTV was examined and has been passed to Humberside Police.

It is the latest in a series of thefts after two throwbags were stolen in July. The thieves also vandalised the casings the bags are contained in.

The new safety equipment had only just been installed days earlier.

New CCTV cameras were also connected to monitor the seafront. A spokesman for Beach Safety said: “These are used to save lives and should be treated with respect. When responding to an emergency incident it is vital that life-saving equipment is readily available and not stolen or damaged. It could literally mean the difference between life and death.”

The theft has come after one of the busiest seasons for rescuers with several people taken to safety by Coastguards, RNLI volunteers and beach safety teams because they became stranded on the beach.

In the week before the thefts in July, 14 people had to be rescued because they got cut off.

On the Cleethorpes Beach Safety Facebook page a spokesman said: “While out on our morning patrols we have discovered one of our throwbags has been stolen and the housing vandalised on the railings adjacent to wonderland groyne. “We have reviewed our CCTV and have clear footage of the perpetrators.”

The throwbag was taken around 7.45pm last night.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Humberside Police quoting crime number 16/99482/20.