EXPLORER scouts have had two sailing boats worth £10,000 stolen from their headquarters just days before the group’s annual summer camp.
Angry members of the Beacon Explorers were preparing for their annual summer camp in Windermere, which starts on Saturday, when they found the club’s RS Vision and RS Feva boats had been stolen from the Main Street headquarters.
Beacon Explorer Will Dunn, 16, a Helsby High School student from Crowton, said: “Everybody is really angry and disappointed.
“The summer camp is the highlight of the explorer calendar. We know this kind of thing can happen but the timing is ridiculous.
“We are heading up to Windermere on Saturday for a week long trip.
“It’s the main time that we use the equipment.”
The group, which has about 25 members aged from about 14-18, meets on Tuesday evenings at the old 1st Frodsham Scout hut off Main Street.
“We will be able to claim on the insurance but to get the same boats for the same price will be quite a struggle, and we definitely won’t be able to do it in time for the camp,” added Will, who has been a member for about two years.
“We will still go but we’re looking at hireling boats which will cost us more.”
The sailing boats were taken, along with a trailer, on Thursday, August 12.
Leader Jeff Wood added: “The boats would have been in constant use.
“My immediate reaction was one of annoyance, we had set ourselves up with some really good boats.
“They were the newest pieces of equipment we had. It’s very disappointing.”
Anyone with any information is asked to ring Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
