Over £1000 of equipment has been stolen from the Fakenham Lancaster Air Scouts site in Fakenham. On the site are leaders (L) Guy Harris and Tom Sutton. Picture: Ian Burt

Investigations are continuing this week into the theft of more than £1,000 worth of equipment from a Fakenham scout group.

We reported last week how the Fakenham Lancaster Air Scouts suffered a break-in at their workshop at a three-acre site at the back of Fakenham Racecourse, at Pudding Norton.

Tools and other items were stolen and a caravan used by the group’s less able members on camps was vandalised. A spokesman for Norfolk Police said investigations are continuing and no arrests have yet been made.

Group Scoutmaster Guy Harris said this week: “The police have been very helpful and have been keeping us well updated into their investigation.

“But it appears the thieves were wearing gloves and left little evidence other than a few footprints so they have little to go on.”

He added: “It feels like we’ve been kicked in the teeth. The thing that upset us the most is the damage that was done to the caravan used by our less able members. It was just mindless.

“But we will recover from this. We are not the sort of group to let things like this beat us.

“Our members are always doing fund-raising events throughout the year and we will continue to do more of these to replace what has been taken.

“Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has been in touch to say they will look into doing some fund-raising for us which is great and any donations people can make to us will be appreciated.

“If there’s anyone out there with an old tatty caravan they don’t want we’d happily take that and do it up.”

The break-in happened some time between 7pm on December 28 and 9am the next day.

The thieves used a crowbar to force their way into a workshop and made off with a new generator, which had been given by the town council and was going to be vital for outside events and repairs, and welding gear used to teach engineering skills.

The intruders also broke into a gun cabinet and stole an air rifle that was used to teach Scouts how to use firearms safely in their indoor range.

The equipment was not insured. Mr Harris said the group had to pay so much for public liability insurance that they could not afford buildings and contents insurance without hiking up subscription fees.

Anyone who has any information about the break-in should contact Norfolk Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Anyone who wants to help Fakenham Lancaster Air Scouts can contact Mr Harris on 01328 855353.