WASH Sailability sailing club for disabled people at Lackford Lakes near Bury St Edmunds will up security following burglary

The chairman of a sailing club for people with disabilities has described a burglary at their lake base as 'devastating'.

The WASH Sailability charity is one of the organisations at Lackford Lakes, near Bury St Edmunds, that was targeted by burglars earlier this month.

Thieves raided a storage unit used by the WASH sailing club and made off with about 22 radios - and their chargers and batteries - an inflatable kayak without its seats and tools, including an electrical drill, used for the maintenance of the boats. They also stole a wide yellow broom.

Alan Jones, who has been chair of WASH Sailability for nine years, described it as 'so frustrating', but is determined the burglary won't delay the start of the season in the spring.

While the boats are covered by insurance, the radios and tools are not, Mr Jones said, estimating replacing the emergency contact equipment could cost close to £1,000.

He said the new season couldn't start until the radio equipment was replaced and they need the tools to make any repairs.

He said: "It's just devastating, really; the fact it's not just now, it's the future impact with the cost of upgrading our security arrangements, and the fact if it had happened at a different time we wouldn't be able to get clients out [on the water]."

He questioned 'why' anybody would target the club, which has about 50 clients and in excess of 40 volunteers. Clients' ages range from four to those in their 90s.

He said: "We think there must be some local link. Surely they know what's going on [at the club]?"

Mr Jones realised WASH Sailability's store door was open when he turned up on December 6.

He, and the two others he was with, also noticed the Sea Cadets' hut and the Scout cabin had also been broken into. The thieves stole keys from the Sea Cadets and a kayak trailer from the Scouts by cutting the cables and tossing the kayaks that were inside on the ground.

Mr Jones added: "They rippled through everything we had. There's stuff all over the place."

Mr Jones does not believe St Edmundsbury Sailing and Canoeing Association, which has a base at Lackford Lakes and he is also involved with, was affected by the burglaries.

• It is thought the burglaries happened over the weekend prior to December 6. Anyone with information should contact Suffolk police quoting reference 37/77662/22. Call 101, email ccc@suffolk.pnn.police.uk or visit www.suffolk.police.uk