£3,000 beach huts wrecking spree
THIEVES targeted at least 30 beach huts at Broadsands, Paignton, causing more than £3,000 damage.
The burglary spree left locks and doors broken and owners picking up the cost of repairs.
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BREAK-IN: Broadsands beach manager Peter Hatfield with damaged beach huts Torquil MacLeod TQTM20120907F-001_C
Personal possessions and food were among the items stolen.
One beach hut owner said: "They also seem to have taken beer and wine from many of the ones they got into.
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"They left wetsuits and anything of value.
"I think they came equipped with stuff to break the locks and steal what they wanted.
"At first we thought it was about 30 huts, including mine, but it may have been up to 60.
"The damage wasn't that bad but it affected a lot of huts."
A Torbay Council spokesman confirmed the break-ins.
The spokesman said: "About 30 council and privately-owned beach huts at Broadsands were broken into on Friday, August 31.
"Tools must have been used to force open doors and gain access to the huts, from which various items including food and personal possessions were stolen.
"Beach staff discovered the break-ins when they arrived for duty on Saturday morning.
"They contacted the police to report the incident, and informed beach hut owners.
"Damage which we estimate at about £3,500 was confined to the doors and security locks, and repairs were put in hand immediately."
Anyone with information should call the police on 101 quoting log 372 of August 31.
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