'Soul destroying' as Penygroes rugby club struck by double break-in blow
THE chairman of a rugby club which suffered two burglaries in less than a week has described the incidents as “soul destroying”.
Penygroes RFC was first broken into overnight between Sunday, August 26 and 27 — then again the following Friday night, leaving the club with thousands of pounds worth of damage.
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Derek McAndrew of Penygroes RFC which was broken into twice in a week with a glass door which was smashed by thieves
Chairman Derek McAndrew said: “It’s the damage that’s the worst thing.
“These people breaking in have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, for just a few hundred pounds,” he added.
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The first burglary saw £350 taken from the club. But Mr McAndrew said less money was left on the premises during the second burglary.
He said club members had now made the decision to remove all money from the premises.
Mr McAndrew said “all sorts of damage” had been left at the club.
He said the two incidents had come at the worst time, adding: “Rugby clubs are hard to keep going at the moment, and this club is no different.”
He said Penygroes RFC was run “exclusively” by volunteers, including the bar.
“It’s soul destroying,” he said. “The first time, they got in by the fire exit doors and smashed the door frame by using a crowbar to get in.
“We haven’t had all our quotes yet, but we think the damage is up to about £2,500, but there are a couple of quotes to come for glass.”
Mr McAndrew added that the second break-in — when burglars entered through a window — saw the till damaged, which will cost roughly £500 to repair, and said the total damage from that incident would amount to another “couple of thousand”.
The club is the only facility in the village — which borders the Gwendraeth and Amman Valleys — providing sports events and a place for youngsters to go.
“We look after about 100 junior members,” said Mr McAndrew.
“They are young kids aged seven to 14, so this is a real huge blow to us.
“It’s not easy to keep clubs going, people don’t tend to spend a lot of time in pubs and clubs.”
Mr McAndrew urged the community to come together to help the club and support it in any way they can.
He also urged anyone with information to contact the police, who he also praised for their work.
Anyone with information can call Dyfed Powys Police on 101.
rachel.moses@swwmedia.co.uk
01267 227259
Comments
by gixer400
Thursday, September 06 2012, 11:59PM
“Why the bleeding eck did you leave money in the till in the 1st place, a rat will always come back for more food !”