Thieves steal £15k boat from Stratford Sea Cadets
CALLOUS thieves have left Stratford Sea Cadets without a training boat after it was stolen from its mooring on the River Avon.
At a cost of £15,000, the bright orange Topline 360 RIB, with a Mercury 2000 engine, was stolen in the early hours of last Tuesday morning (23rd July) from its location opposite Avon Boating.
Chris Wheeler, chair of Stratford Sea Cadets, said: “The boat was used to help train our cadets and improve their powerboat skills and how to handle different craft.
“We’d just got it back on the water after some quite expensive repairs.
“We think the area where the boat was moored was reccied and stolen to order because you’ve got to know what you’re looking for and you can’t access the area on foot, so it would need to be towed and lifted out of the water and put on a trailer or in a van.”
The timing of the theft and other suspicious activity in the area has also been recorded.
“We believe the theft took place between 1.10am and 3.30am. Avon Boating footage shows two people trying to hotwire one of their boats by their premises.
“In respect of our theft, the RIB craft serves was an essential training vessel for the sea cadets. The loss of this craft significantly impacts their activities and training programme,” Mr Wheeler added.
Stratford police said: “We urge anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity around the mooring area, or who has any information about the whereabouts of the stolen craft, to come forward. Please contact us via email at su.snt@warwickshire.police.uk with any information that may assist in our investigation.
“Any details, no matter how small, could prove crucial in helping us recover the RIB craft and bring those responsible to justice.”
