Steal-to-order thieves are targeting metal fencing at a bowling club in Bradford, claim its fed-up members.
Seventeen panels between 4ft and 5ft have been stolen from Greengates Bowling Club in two raids.
Bizarrely, say members, random panels have been targeted, including slanted ones specially made to fit on slopes near the clubhouse, leaving patchwork fencing around the green.
The nuts and bolts holding the panels in were also stolen.
Frank Johnson, captain of Greengates’ half holiday league team, said: “It is totally mindless –they just don’t care. Everyone is a bit annoyed. We are worried about coming in and finding some more gone. It looks as though they have been taken to measure. We haven’t got a clue who took them.
“There are that many of these scrapdealers roaming around, although it could be someone who took them to do a job.”
In a message to those responsible, Mr Johnson said: “I just wish it happens to them, sometime. A lot of people, old and young, get a lot of pleasure from this bowling green.”
The first raid happened on May 1, said Mr Johnson, with the second one three weeks later. Mr Johnson said that although it hasn’t stopped players from bowling, there were now concerns about people wandering across the green and damaging it.
“The green has little marks where children are running on it,” he said. “And there’s a bald patch where it looks like someone has relieved themselves. People can get on easily now there’s part of the fence missing. It could possibly lead to quad bikes or motorbikes going on it.
“There was a skateboard in the middle of it the other day.”
Mr Johnson appealed for witnesses to either theft to contact the police.
The bowling green, which is in Greengates park, is owned by Bradford Council. A spokesman was unable to give the value of the metal stolen, although bowlers believed it would be thousands of pounds. Ian Bairstow, the Council’s strategic director for environment and sport, said: “Over the past few weeks there have been a number of thefts of fencing from this park.
“We believe the metal fence panels are being stolen to be sold as for scrap. We are working with the police and we have further secured the remainder of the fencing.”
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