Leisure bosses at Tendring District Council (TDC) today made an urgent plea for help to catch thieves who continue to steal lifebelts from Clacton seafront putting lives at risk.

Nine orange lifebelts went missing between 5pm yesterday and 10am today (April 19) on the stretch between Clacton Pier and the Gunfleet Sailing Club.

Earlier this month the Council revealed that 30 had been removed from the same area in the previous month.

Tim Sutton, TDC's Seafront Manager, said that a member of staff had cycled home at the end of his shift yesterday - and all the lifebelts were in place.

"When we came in to work at 10am this morning nine of them had been taken - either stolen or just discarded somewhere," he said.

"It is very frustrating and it will cost us around £300 to replace the latest batch which has gone missing."

Pierre Oxley, TDC's Leisure Portfolio Holder, said he could not understand why the lifebelts were being taken.

"I cannot believe it is for people's own use," he said. "Maybe this is happening when people have had a few drinks and they are doing it for some sort of sick joke but it is a serious matter.

"It means that there is a period of time - until they can be replaced - that the lifebelts are not at their station when they might be needed to save a life."

Cllr Oxley said that latest incident had been reported to police.

"I would urge anyone who knows anything about these thefts to contact us or the police," he added.

"Or, if you are one of those involved in taking the lifebelts, I would make a plea to you to stop. It could be your friend or family who gets into difficulty in the sea and I don't think anyone would want that on their conscience."

He also asked that if anyone found one of the lifebelts to return it to the Council at Clacton Town Hall or the Beach Patrol base at Clacton's West Beach.

19/4/09

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