ONGAR: Hundreds of pounds of damage caused by petty thieves

By labrown

A SPORTS club is being targeted by thieves who have already caused more than a £1,000 worth of damage, just to make off with some loose change.

A mere two-figure sum of cash was stolen when two machines – a ticket dispenser and a meter for squash court bookings – were smashed open at Ongar Social and Sports Club in Love Lane.

The ticket machine had only just been replaced, at a cost of £800, after it was ripped off the wall two weeks previously.

John Bicknell, chairman of Ongar Squash Club, said: "It makes you look at everyone suspiciously. It's caused quite a lot of aggravation and made things awkward.

"Five different police officers have been to take statements and fingerprints.

The thieves are believed to have entered the premises some time between 7.30pm on Wednesday January 20 and 9am the next day, by forcing open a side door.

This followed a similar burglary between 9.30 and 11pm on Sunday January 3.

The club now empties the ticket machine every day and is looking to introduce additional security measures.

It has yet to replace the booking machine for the squash courts and the management will have to arrange alternative payment methods for members as they can no longer just turn up and slot their pound coins into the machine.

"It makes life difficult. We now have to address our security and beef up everything," Mr Bicknell said.

"We can cope with what has happened so far but if it happens again we would have to raise the extra revenue to pay for the vandalism."

He is also telling other sports and social clubs to be vigilant.

"Other people should be warned of the dangers. They have to be very, very careful."

Anyone with any information should contact Ongar Police Station on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.