Burglars skate off with kit (From This Is Wiltshire)

Burglars skate off with kit

1:41pm Saturday 31st December 2005

• Print
• Email
• Share

A SWINDON ice hockey team is on the skids after thieves made off with their new kit.

The Swindon Panthers took delivery of their new 2006 tracksuits just over a week ago and they were being kept in assistant manager and goalie Tim Pickett's garden shed in Gorse Hill.

But when he went into his garden on Tuesday evening the 26 tracksuits had gone, together with his collection of ice hockey memorabilia which included ice hockey shirts he has collected while in Canada and America.

Police estimate the value of the haul is over £3,000.

Tim, 32, of Tydeman Street, says the theft is a big financial problem for the team.

He said: "We're self funded. All the players contribute on a monthly basis for the fees for the ice and the coaches and everything else so the loss is unrecoverable. We have no other funding.

"We're about to start the new season and we were getting ready for it. We reconvene on January 8 and we'll have to have a meeting to decide what to do.

"We do have gear to play in but presentation is very important in ice hockey.

"The Panthers have always prided ourselves on looking the best we can."

The tracksuits, which are black with white trim, were scheduled to be personalised in January.

Mr Pickett, who works in the marketing department at Royal Mail, said: "I was angry at first but I'm more disappointed really. The shirts can't be replaced and I would ideally like to retrieve them if that is at all possible.

"I have no idea who might have done this. We've heard there have been a number of suspected break-ins in the area, but mainly for power tools.

"My tools were taken too but I can live with that. It's the team stuff that is really going to cause a problem."

The Panthers play at the Link Centre in the Summer Cup, which is contested by teams from across the south of England.

Alvina Kumar, spokeswoman for Swindon police, confirmed the burglary had taken place.

She said the tracksuits and toolboxes taken have an estimated value of £3,045.

The tracksuits are of mesh design. They are made by RBK and have the word hockey on them.

Anyone with any information should contact Swindon police on 01793 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

• Print
• Email
• Share