2 Island football clubs have been targeted by thieves over the weekend with a break in and attempted break in at grounds in Wroxall and Rookley.
Thieves cut their way through metal bars at Wroxall Football Club to take a strimmer and chainsaw belonging to the club. Beer, food and cash were also stolen, together with football equipment such as goal nets and footballs.
Practically nothing of value was left untouched with even Pot Noodles being removed from the premises.
James Sheath, of Wroxall Football Club, said via Facebook:
“Whoever has broken into Wroxall Football Club and robbed everything including goal nets, you now have 35 blokes after you!”
There was a similar story in Rookley, where the Football Development Centre, which specialises in teaching football to children of primary school age, was also subjected to an attempted break-in at the weekend.
When the thieves found they were unable to break down the door, they then set about vandalizing the club’s property.
The story is told by Newport co-manager, Stewart Shepherd, who said:
“This morning [Sunday], when I went to Rookley to set up for our youth games, I arrived to see that someone had tried breaking into our shed. They even left the metal bar wedged into the padlock where they had tried to force it open. They smashed all our pitch marking equipment up, then decided to scatter it around the field.
“There’s absolutely no need for this. All the time we as volunteers put into trying to do things for the kids, and people just think they can do what they want to equipment that does not belong to them.”
Both clubs now face significant costs in replacing the equipment to enable players of all ages to once enjoy again the great game.
Anyone with information can contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101.
Blame courts for giving weak sentences, as now, they know IF, and a big IF, they are caught, then what? A few days unpaid work, which likely unemployed anyway, so paid to do nothing every day.
They need to be removed from society.
More delightful Feral Scum!
Who are these morons. They really need to be caught.
Sports clubs are a vital part of communities and give enjoyment to lots of people.
They are supported by hard working volunteers and staff and don’t deserve to be victims of these antisocial and criminal individuals who have no conscience
If you know who they are then report them to the police.
If they keep getting away with crime they have no meaningful future.
Waste of time going to police two men in dark blue transit high top tried to steal road compressor in daylight on Friday police aren’t interested, had plumbers logo on side beware tool thieves!!
Let’s hope that those responsible are found and “dealt with ” by the “35 blokes ” rather than just get a slap on the wrist by the judicial system.
Not just 35 blokes out to get them,expect a number of teenagers, parents and locals as well as other football clubs – your card is red and will be named and shamed in due course
It is a shame the club members cannot find out who the mindless scum are who did this and then go to their homes and utterly trash them as they did to the club, but then the liberal do gooders would be up in arms, failing that follow the example of the Isle of Man and birch the filth publicly.
Must be doorbell cameras along route that could lead to description of car.
Cannot understand why you would leave cash in the building, especially when we know what low life live in the area.
Mainland thieves I suspect. Taking advantage of busy ferries to get away.
If you think that then more fool you.. There are some absolute scumbags born and bred on this island I mean vile disgusting individuals that are a blight on this island. Keep wearing your rose tinted spectacles.
Just seems the timing is right, bank holiday, lots of people over here, if it was an islander why not pick a wet, rainy night. I don’t need spectacles either.
Surely if you steel goal nets, there to order?
I have set up a Go Fund Me page for the clubs, please copy and paste the link…. THANKYOU
https://gofund.me/3a56d3ef
Don’t expect the scum or their associates to have any morals or conscience. They probably bought what was stolen.