'Sickened' by bike theft from charity (From Free Press Series)

'Sickened' by bike theft from charity

CHARITY workers say they feel 'sickened' after returning home from a 300-mile fundraising trip to find they'd been burgled.

Roger Dixon, sheltered housing officer at Glanwern House, Pontypool, was part of a seven-strong team who cycled around 250 miles from Pontypool to Lands End.

They left on Good Friday and returned on Saturday April 2, having raised around £1000 in sponsorship for the Mayor's charities. But their homecoming was spoiled when they discovered four bikes and three trailers valued at over £1000 had been taken.

"Someone had broken into a caravan in the grounds and stolen all the bikes and trailers," said Mr Dixon.

"I feel really sickened. We'd spent all that time raising money. We'd raised about £1000 and felt really good about it, then someone does this. Two of the bikes belonged to my ten-year-old daughter and she's really upset.

"We've given the money we raised to the Mayor's charities. Now we'll have to find the money to replace our own equipment. After this, we'll have to ask ourselves if it's worth doing anything in the future," said Mr Dixon, who received a civic testimonial for his fundraising activities in the past.

These are the items that were stolen:

Three mountain bikes - a silver and red Barracuda, a girl's purple Apollo and a blue bike.

A silver three wheeler belonging to Mr Dixon's daughter Danielle.

A black tag-a-long and two trailers - one green, one blue.

You can call Pontypool police on 01495 232896 if you have any information.