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Life-saving quad bikes stolen from RNLI

One of the RNLI's Yamaha Grizzly 350cc quad bikes Photo: RNLI

Life-saving equipment for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) lifeguard service on Crosby, Formby, Southport and Ainsdale beaches has been targeted by thieves.

Thieves got in to the charity’s Support Centre in Formby and smashed through a door before stealing three Yamaha quad bikes and a Honda 500 quad, used by lifeguards for their beach safety patrols.

It happened between 6pm on Thursday 31st January and 8am on Friday 1st February.

The bikes are worth around £6,000 each and two other bikes were damaged during the break-in.

RNLI lifeguards continue to operate their daily beach safety patrols on Crosby Beach. However, the equipment will have to be replaced before the Easter Holidays when lifeguards are due to start patrolling Southport and Ainsdale beach.

‘It was heart-breaking to discover the thefts and I can’t possibly comprehend why anyone would want to target our lifesaving service.’

‘The RNLI is a charity and all our equipment is paid for through public donations. It is exasperating that we will now have to rely on the generosity of our supporters to replace these essential pieces of equipment, as well as to fix the damage to the site and to increase the security measures we already have in place.’

– Pete Rooney, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor