Balaclava clad raiders strike Burghclere Sports Club

Safe broken into and over £1,200 stolen

Members of a Burghclere sports club are picking up the pieces after balaclava-clad burglars broke open the safe and made off with more than £1,200.

The chairman of the Burghclere Sports Club in Harts Lane, Andy Timbrell, told the Newbury Weekly News this week that the club was open as usual, following the burglary during the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday (May 4).

“The back door was smashed open – they prised the door off,” said Mr Timbrell, adding that the club’s CCTV cameras had shown two people breaking in, both wearing balaclavas.

“It was a bit of a shock; we thought it was fairly secure with CCTV and security lights,” he said.

The burglars also took cigarettes and tobacco and left items scattered over the floor.

Mr Timbrell said that police had been informed and were investigating the incident.

Financially it was a huge blow for the club.

“We are ticking over at the best of times. It was a big dent in takings,” said Mr Timbrell, who added that members were gutted.

The club had suffered a spate of burglaries about seven years ago but, following improved security, there had not been any problems until this recent attack.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough coumcillor John Izett (Con, Burghclere, Highclere and St Mary Bourne), said it had been a “very disturbing development for our community, and it was important police did everything possible to catch the criminals”.

He added that there seemed to be a spate of burglaries involving non-domestic properties in the village and it was important for people to check their security measures and keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour.

Anyone with information about the burglary should contact police on the non-emergency telephone number, 101.