Parents of children using the playground were shocked at the theft of the aerial runway from Saumarez Park playground. Left to right, nanny Danni Le Breton holding Luke Elliot, 1, Sophie Pearce holding Freya Smith, 2, and son Ziggy Pearce, two and a half. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0798695)
THIEVES have stolen an aerial runway, replaced only three months ago, from the playground at Saumarez Park.
Parks and Garden staff discovered the loss when they arrived to clean the playground at 7.30 yesterday morning.
While the wooden structure that supports the line remains, the thieves went to a considerable effort to remove the steel cable, suspension fittings and seat, overnight on Tuesday.
The cost of replacing the equipment is estimated at about £2,000 – it had previously been replaced three months ago so that it was in good condition for the summer.
Yesterday, parents of children using the playground were shocked to find the most popular piece of play equipment gone.
Sophie Pearce, 35, was with her son Ziggy, 2, and a friend’s daughter, Freya Smith, also 2.
‘It’s very popular and there are usually people using it – why would anybody take it?’
Nanny Danny Le Breton, 33, who was looking after Luke Elliot, 1, said it was terrible.
‘I don’t understand how they would have got it. People have nothing better to do.’
A woman who asked not to be named said the thieves were out of order.
‘The children love it and there’s normally a massive queue for it. It’s the favourite piece of play equipment in the park. They must have gone to some extent to pinch it.’
A spokesperson for the Environment Department said it was a particularly mean theft.
‘The aerial runway is in use all year round and is one of the few pieces of equipment that can be enjoyed by children from the age of three years through to teenagers.
‘The department has already spent a considerable sum in replacing it and cannot afford to do so again.
‘This kind of runway must have a special frame to take the tension of the cable so it’s not the kind of equipment you’d usually find in a back garden,’ they said.
‘We’d appeal to the thieves to return the cable, seat and all the fittings to the park so that we can repair the runway and get it back in use for all the children who will miss it badly this summer.’
A police spokesman said they were investigating the theft.
‘If anyone can help us trace the equipment or the mean-spirited individual who hauled it away, they are asked to call us on: 725111 or Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111.’
Article posted on 2nd July, 2009 - 2.29pm
One Article Comment
A shocking story for sure, but what’s with the “mean-spirited” in the title? Are they any more mean-spirited because the story’s got an emotional attachment in the kids’ playground?
Surely when you become a thief you’re pretty much throwing caution to community-mindedness – I’d prefer the GP to see these people described as they truly are and bracketed with all the other lowlives of our so-called society.
Report abuse