Thieves break into scout huts across borough

Thieves tore the roof off at the Scout Hut in Spotland

A spate of break ins has occured at local scout huts - in recent weeks, at least three have been targeted in Sudden, North Middleton and Spotland.

Sudden’s hut was trashed.

Thieves broke through the roof of the Spotland hut and made off with a small amount of cash, leaving hundreds of pounds’ worth of damage in their wake.

At 7^th A Spotland, the metal roof had been torn off at its furthest point from the road. Once inside, the intruder kicked a through a door and smashed a till on the floor, before making off with the sum of money.

Group Leader at Spotland, Mike Phillips, said: “Other groups have also had similar break ins, 37^th Sudden and one in North Middleton.

“We have gone through worse, but it’s the principle. The leaders also work very hard to put on the activities for the children, who work extremely hard to raise that money.

“It’s really upsetting it’s just low to target children, especially with the amount of effort they put in.

“Just go and get a job.”

Mr Phillips will be looking into installing CCTV, an extra measure of security in addition to the existing metal shutters and roof, plus a high security lock.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to reports of a break in and robbery at a scout hut on Spotland Road, Rochdale. The break in happened sometime between 9pm Monday 21 May and 6.15pm Wednesday 23 May.

“There is no description of offender/s, and no arrests have been made thus far.”

The scout shop at Spotland will reopen in June after half-term.