Cruel thieves have targeted Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s brand new score box for a second time.
The latest incident happened in the early hours of Monday morning, when thieves got away with some of the players’ kit.
It comes just a few weeks after the new electronic score box, which was revamped in the summer thanks to GAMP funding, was targeted but the culprits skulked away empty-handed on that occasion.
However, some of the players left their kit bags in the box after the club’s annual BBQ on Saturday evening – hoping to go back for it days later.
But the kit was stolen overnight on Sunday, while damage was also caused to the electrics for the recently-installed scoreboard.
The club’s chairman Ian Palmer said: “Nothing is usually stored in the score box other than some basic training aids that would have no resale value.
“However, on Saturday night, following a successful club barbeque, a couple of players left their kit with the intention of collecting it later in the week. Unfortunately the bags were taken as part of the break-in.
“Although the score box does not house anything of any value, due to the mindless vandalism that was caused, we will now have to review our security measures.
“This will inevitably cost money which we can’t really afford and will mean diverting funding from our main purpose of providing cricket and coaching.”
The police are currently investigating and are checking the Sports Club’s CCTV cameras, which recorded pictures of the break-in in progress.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the police on 101.
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