More than £20k in items stolen from Lancing Sea Scout group

A fundraiser's been set up to replace items such as kayaks

Author: Ryan BurrowsPublished 2nd Sep 2020

A Lancing Sea Scout group is counting the cost after thieves stole between £20,000 and £30,000 in items in a break-in at their lockup.

At least ten kayaks were taken from the 3rd/5th Sea Scouts along with spraydecks, paddles, buoyancy aids and other items, at some point over the weekend.

Members of the team found that the building had been entered on Monday.

Photos from the scene show kayaks left out on the riverbank and surrounding areas.

The group has said it has had to stop all activities due to the lack of available equipment, preventing children in the group from heading out onto the water.

A GoFundMe page set up to recover some of the costs has managed to raise more than £3,000 so far.

A spokesperson from Sussex Police said:

"Police are investigating a report of kayaks being stolen from the Third Fifth Lancing Sea Scouts storage unit in Coombes Road, Lancing.

"The theft is believed to have happened between 8.30pm on Friday (28 August) and Monday morning (31 August).

"Between 15-20 kayaks plus kayak equipment have been reported stolen.

"Anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious is asked to report online or call 101, quoting 295 of 31/08."