Thieves take £1,000 of sports gear from garage

A FAMILY in St Neots were left shocked after they lost £1,000 of property to thieves who raided their garage twice in one evening. The Baxter family, who live in Almond Road, discovered the first break-in on Sunday afternoon. A few hours later and the thi

A FAMILY in St Neots were left shocked after they lost £1,000 of property to thieves who raided their garage twice in one evening.

The Baxter family, who live in Almond Road, discovered the first break-in on Sunday afternoon. A few hours later and the thieves had struck again.

The garage, which the family rent for £30 a month from Luminus Group, is close to the Royal Mail sorting office in Huntingdon Street and contained lots of sporting equipment, including some used by a junior football team.

Nicola Baxter, a mother of two who works at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, said: "On Sunday I saw that our garage had been broken into and several other garage doors had been damaged.

"One of our bikes had gone and other things were on the ground outside the garage. Later, my husband went back to investigate and to his horror the garage had been broken into again."

This time the thieves stole about 100 training balls, which were used by Nicola's husband Martin when he coaches Priory youth football teams, a 6ft snooker table, a bike, some fishing tackle and their son's golf clubs.

Mr Baxter, who works for Huntingdonshire District Council, said: "The garages are always being vandalised but this is the first time mine has been broken into. We pay £30 a month to rent out that garage from Luminus Group and we won't be renting it any longer.

"I estimate we have had stolen about £1,000 worth of our personal belongings and it is upsetting."

Mrs Baxter added: "We felt violated, what gives anyone the right to just break in and take what they like? The police can only give us a crime number and there is no security at the garages, so I guess it is easy for the thieves to just take what they like when they like."

A spokesman for Luminus Group said security was being reviewed. "We have already embarked upon a major investment for all our garage sites. A refurbishment is due to be completed within the next five years and looks at security.

"Our neighbourhood wardens and garage warden regularly patrol the garage sites to provide high visibility and a reassuring presence."

INFORMATION: Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 4564564.