A HILPERTON man has been left devastated after waking up to find his racing go kart had been stolen from his garage overnight.

Alan Pople, 74, of Whaddon Lane, was woken up by his neighbour on Thursday (February 23) who told him that his £2,500 green TB Kart Motorsport, which he bought at the beginning of last year, had been stolen from his garage by thieves.

“I thought he was pulling my leg and when I went out to look it had gone. They hadn’t taken the trolley it sits on as it is too heavy and nothing else had been stolen, just the kart. I am really annoyed that someone would do this. Usually I keep the garage locked as it has locks on all four corners, but I had opened my garage on Wednesday so I could wash my car and forgot to lock it after,” Mr Pople said.

“At my age you have to go out and do things like this or you don’t know when the switch will be turned off, I like to think that I am in good health.”

After buying the kart last year from America, Mr Pople had been using it to race in Forest Edge Kart Club in Andover, with his friend taking it up there for him.

“As I am not licensed for a proper track I would pay the people at Andover just so I could ride it up there. My friend Keith would pick it up and keep it with all of his stuff and then I would go up to Andover and meet him there,” Mr Pople added.

“I used to ride a motorbike for years, back then you would never think of someone stealing something like this. I used to park my motorbike in Melksham, leave my gloves and my helmet underneath and go off for the day. Every time I used to come back it would all still be there, but now people will steal anything that isn’t bolted down.”

Since Mr Pople realised his kart had been stolen, his friends have started a Facebook appeal informing everyone of the theft in hopes that people may see someone with the kart.

“What I can hope for is that it will be too hot to sell so it could be left somewhere by the thieves and hopefully in one piece. After the Facebook post went up we had seven or so people respond instantly,” Mr Pople said.

A spokesperson from Wiltshire Police said: “If anyone witnessed the incident or has any information they are asked to call the police on 101 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”