A CHARITY nature centre near Trowbridge was broken into twice in the space of two days.
Thieves smashed in doors of both the tearooms and an outside storage shed at the Hope Nature Centre in two incidents - one in the early hours of Friday morning and the second on Saturday night.
They took cash in the first raid and then followed up with a second where they stole gardening equipment.
The nature centre, in Southwick Country Park, has suffered before at the hands of vandals.
The centre was set up to help adults with learning difficulties but was attacked by arsonists last July.
During the recent attacks, thieves broke in through the front door and stole a jar full of change that was being collected to raise funds for a new extension to their popular tearoom. Then they came back between Saturday night and Sunday morning to smash in a shed door and take a generator, chainsaw and stores of soft drinks. They also broke a gate.
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June Fleming, chairman of the charity trust, was woken at 2.30am on Friday by a telephone call from her burglar alarm company.
By the time she arrived at the centre the police were there, having also been alerted by the alarm firm, but the vandals had already made off.
They had broken through the front door, stolen the jar full of change and also broke into the office.
She said: "It's pure vandalism. It is so annoying. To do this when it's a charity for young people with learning difficulties is just awful.
"Then to come back and cause more destruction and take more stuff is just plain vindictive. We have got them on CCTV and the police dog tracked them as far as Studley Green on both occasions so we know where they are.
"The net is closing in on them if they think they're going to get away with it they've got another thing coming."
Police are investigating both incidents and will use CCTV footage to help them catch the criminals.
They are looking for at least two young men who, it seems, went up to the centre at 10.30am on Thursday and then came back again at 1am on Friday morning, before eventually breaking in an hour-and-a-half later.
The first man is described as white, of medium build, wearing a hip length jacket, trousers, gloves and a balaclava similar to a Spiderman mask.
The second is described as white, of smaller build, skinny, wearing gloves, a dark hooded top with writing and possibly a Batman type logo on it and with two lighter draw cords hanging down, jogging trousers and light trainers. He was carrying a small sack, and had his face uncovered.
The police sniffer dog tracked the men to the St John's Crescent area of Studley Green, Trowbridge.
Come on people in St John's Crescent don't protect these people!!
The dogs aren't exactly quiet when they get a scent surely someone must have noticed their neighbour coming in at that time.
Come on people in St John's Crescent don't protect these people!!
The dogs aren't exactly quiet when they get a scent surely someone must have noticed their neighbour coming in at that time.
Come on people in St John's Crescent don't protect these people!!
The dogs aren't exactly quiet when they get a scent surely someone must have noticed their neighbour coming in at that time.
Come on people in St John's Crescent don't protect these people!!
The dogs aren't exactly quiet when they get a scent surely someone must have noticed their neighbour coming in at that time.
Posted by: Necker, Trowbridge on 11:35pm Thu 8 May 08
Take two on this story.
Extra info in this story is that there were two break-ins and
The police sniffer dog tracked the men to the St John's Crescent area of Studley Green, Trowbridge.
If we wait another week WT will re-run this story with the actual number of the house I suspect...
Police will 'appeal' or ask if a member of the public will please go and knock on the door and ask if Batman or Robin live there.
Take two on this story.
Extra info in this story is that there were two break-ins and
The police sniffer dog tracked the men to the St John's Crescent area of Studley Green, Trowbridge.
If we wait another week WT will re-run this story with the actual number of the house I suspect...
Police will 'appeal' or ask if a member of the public will please go and knock on the door and ask if Batman or Robin live there.
Posted by: Alex Zivojinovich, Wiltshire on 5:37pm Fri 9 May 08
Hang on folks, we arent being very pc here. Give the culprit(s) a chance please. If they dont 'come clean' by say...a weeks time, let's just forget it please. Thank you for listening hope I havent offended. If I have please accept my apology.
Hang on folks, we arent being very pc here. Give the culprit(s) a chance please. If they dont 'come clean' by say...a weeks time, let's just forget it please. Thank you for listening hope I havent offended. If I have please accept my apology.
Posted by: upforit, trowbridge on 8:29pm Fri 9 May 08
Plod could not catch a trout in a fish farm. There are some bad lads in that area so they will probably nick me instead cos I have no police record, pay 40% tax, work hard but am easy pray for them...Jesus wept plod just get yor act together and stop bleeding us dry with your salaries for delivering absolutely nowt!
Plod could not catch a trout in a fish farm. There are some bad lads in that area so they will probably nick me instead cos I have no police record, pay 40% tax, work hard but am easy pray for them...Jesus wept plod just get yor act together and stop bleeding us dry with your salaries for delivering absolutely nowt!
Posted by: Alex Zivojinovich, Wiltshire on 12:41pm Sat 10 May 08
Upforit...you is my new hero, primary reason being that you are supertax material. I challenge anyone to get a decent and timely response from the plod when you need em. The plod are letting us down along with the cps and everyone else. We are paying an ever increasing premium for ever decreasing levels of service...whereever you look.
Upforit...you is my new hero, primary reason being that you are supertax material. I challenge anyone to get a decent and timely response from the plod when you need em. The plod are letting us down along with the cps and everyone else. We are paying an ever increasing premium for ever decreasing levels of service...whereever you look.
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