Burglars strike twice in 48 hours at rugby club
RUGBY players’ shirts have been stolen from Oldham Roughyeds – the second break-in in just 48 hours.
Thieves swiped a number of the players’ kits along with items of training gear and a ‘quantity’ of other clothes on Friday night.
This came just two days after thieves broke into the club’s Whitebank office where they took wines, spirits, computers and stewards’ radios.
Damage was also caused to the referees’ changing room during the burglary.
The chairman of the Kingstone Press Championship club, Chris Hamilton, said: “I’m sick of it – to the back teeth. It’s the latest in a number of attacks since we moved to Whitebank and we need people to assist us in identifying those who are carrying out these raids.
“On Wednesday amongst items stolen were all the radios used by stewards. These are not everyday items and anybody offering these for sale should stand out. As should the items of playing kit and players’ leisurewear which were taken in the break-in on Friday.”
He said the kit has the club badge on and is not on general sale, so would be easy to spot.
Mr Hamilton added: “The job of keeping a club going is naturally hard as it is without setbacks like this and we hope members of the public will stay vigilant and help us to bring those responsible to justice.”
The ground has been broken into on numerous occasions since Roughyeds moved into Whitebank in 2010.
Telephone contact with the club has been unavailable, but was expected to be restored today.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.