£3,000 of bikes taken in raid on Scouts site

LOSS OF THE 11 MACHINES ‘A HUGE BLOW’ TO ORGANISATION

SCOUT leaders are asking the public for their help after mountain bikes worth about £3,000 were stolen at an activity centre.

Eleven bicycles belonging to Leicestershire Scouts Mountain Bike Activity Team, which organises guided cycle rides for youngsters, were taken in the raid at Willesley Woodside, near Ashby.

Police said the thieves managed to gain entry to a secure container between 7pm last Wednesday and 1pm the following day.

Team manager Andy Coker described the theft as a “huge blow” to the organisation, which is hoping to begin working with young people again once lockdown restrictions are eased.

“The bikes were being stored at a site in Ashby which has already been broken into earlier this year,” he said.

“Padlocks were cut and windows were smashed back then.

“This time they prised the door open and snapped the lock.

“We are self-funding. We don’t get any support and we haven’t done any rides this year due to Covid-19, which means we haven’t made any money.

“The problem we have at the moment is that most bike shops are out of bikes at the moment so, even once insurance money comes through, it’s going to be difficult to replace them in time for when our activities restart.”

The bikes stolen include a small

Giant Revel black/green mountain bike; two Giant Revel white mediumsized bikes; a white Felt 7 Fifty mountain bike; two orange Giant ATX (extra small) bikes, and five Giant ATX bikes (small) in luminous green.

“The values of the bikes stolen is in the region of £3,000,” said Mr Coker.

“I’ve phoned around the local bike shops to keep an eye out for the stolen cycles.

“The bikes were bought last year for the Charnwood international Scout camp at Cattows Farm,” said Mr Coker. “It’s extremely frustrating.”

He is asking anyone who comes across mountain bikes fitting the description of those stolen being offered for sale online, to get in touch with the police.

A police spokesman said: “We received a report of burglary at a premises in Willesley Woodside.

“Entry had been gained to a container and a number of mountain bikes were stolen.

“It is believed the incident took place between 7pm on Wednesday, July 8 and 1pm on July 9.”

Call police on 101.