Thieves steal £15,000 worth of bikes and equipment from Heywood BMX club

Opportunist thieves have stolen over £15,000 worth of bikes and equipment from BMX club Roch Valley Raiders.

The thieves have stolen BMX bikes, helmets, tools and even a first aid kit that the club used.

It is understood that the thieves approached a container in Queen's Park, Heywood over the weekend that is used by the club. It appears that they have used an angle grinder to cut the padlock to enter the container.

Yvonne Mills, club secretary, said: “They have stolen all of the bikes that were hung up in the container, helmets, and new helmets that we have recently bought and even taken a first aid kit. They would have needed one or two lorries to take everything away. They knew what they were doing.”

Yvonne is now worried that the club, that has around 60 members, won’t be able to continue properly unless the equipment is found or replaced.

She added: “We are going to have to turn people away this weekend. We have children who come to us without bikes and without helmets and they loan things from us but now I am going to have to turn them away.

“Our regular session won’t be able to go ahead as usual because we don’t have the first aid kit. We will have to focus on maintenance instead.”

The theft occurred at some point over the weekend (Saturday 31 January or Sunday 1 February) but was only noticed by club members on Monday (2 February) morning.

Yvonne and club members are appealing to anyone who may know anything or to anyone who sees anything to get in touch.

“People have been brilliant and have said they will help us get new equipment and will loan us equipment so that has been really nice,” added Yvonne.

The bikes that were stolen are not normal BMX bikes. They are racing BMX bikes so have skinner tyres than usual and a distinctive look to them.

Police have stated that enquiries into the theft are ongoing.

A go fund me page has also been set up to help the club raise money to replace the equipment. Donations can be made via:

http://www.gofundme.com/rvrbmx

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Yvonne Mills on 07954 413061.