Angler’s appeal to tackle rod burglars (From St Helens Star)

Angler’s appeal to tackle rod burglars

8:00am Friday 11th January 2013 in News

AN angler made an appeal for help after burglars stole £15,000 worth of fishing gear and tools from his garage.

The crooks smashed their way into Allan Brown’s property on Knowsley Road, Eccleston before steeling a raft of specialist equipment used in carp, coarse and sea fishing.

Among the haul were five fishing rods, five reels, a rod rest, outdoor stove, landing net and outdoor clothing. They also snatched tools.

Police suspect up to four burglars were involved.

Now Allan is offering a £500 reward for information that leads to the return of the stolen property.

The 45-year-old, a HGV driver currently suffering from ill health, told the Star: “It was the morning of our wedding anniversary and we woke up looking forward to the day.

“We went outside and discovered the rear window of our car had been smashed but it was only later that I went in to the garage.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes – it was just a nightmare. They had wiped me out. It was specialist equipment that I had built up over 30 years of fishing.

“They had jumped over two 6ft high fences to get access and have then smashed the side door to get in.”

The grandfather-of-three and his wife Sarahjayne, who runs a craft shop in Earlestown, have been left furious.

The equipment was not insured and the couple have been trawling second hand shops and websites to see whether the crooks have tried to sell on the gear, which is marked in black pen with the owner’s initials.

He added: “Having not been well over the past year I’ve not been out fishing much so the police suspect I have been targeted by someone who knew the equipment was stored there.

“I’m very well known in the St Helens angling community and I doubt the thieves will try to offload it around here.”

Police in St Helens have appealed for anyone who is offered fishing equipment for sale at a cut price, or in suspicious circumstances, to contact police.

Contact St Helens police station on 0151 777 6871 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.