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Stolen Hayes Hawks BMX bikes found
THE HAWKS BMX club has been rescued from the brink of ruin after its burgled bikes were recovered, although police continue to hunt for the thieves.
BMXs belonging to the club were found in a garage on Friday evening (January 22), after police received a tip off and sought a search warrant for a property in Juniper Way, Hayes.
33 of the club's bikes, a generator and protective gear used by the young members that regularly attend the BMX sessions were taken from their facilities container next to the cycle track at Lake Farm Country Park in Dawley Road, Hayes, on January 12.
Hopes of finding them dwindled as appeals yielded nothing and fund-raising plans to keep the club afloat started being made before this breakthrough.
The bikes have now been returned to the club's owners, and their recovery means that the long-standing Hawks are back in business, much to the relief of the Club's Chairman, Scott Dick, who said that the seizure was "great news".
"Aside from any financial trouble that we may have faced, the main concern was that we wouldn't have been able to operate the way we normally do; there would be nothing for local kids, and we would have had to build the club back up from scratch.
"We were shocked that they were found, mainly because they were being kept so close to the track.
The Hawks BMX club was started up in 1981 and is a pillar of the Hayes community, providing coaching and training for over 100 young members.
It is the number one BMX club in London, nurturing some of the most talented young bikers in the country.
This latest burglary was the second on the club in the space of a year, and it is currently looking for a more secure storage facility.
Mr Dick added: "There are still some bikes missing but we have the bulk of them back with us so its business as usual from next weekend.
"We have been getting lots of calls from parents of the kids who come to the club and we have had a lot of positive feedback, it's great news."
Despite the successful recovery, the burglars have yet to be found and police are stepping up their search.
Chief Inspector Maurice Hartnett, Head of Safer Neighbourhoods Policing, said: "I am disheartened to learn of this crime against an organisation working in the community to provide facilities for the young people. A short while ago we provided funds for this organization to assist them and sustain this community venture.
"Our investigations continue to find the perpetrators and the rest of the equipment."
If you have any information, contact the Botwell Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 0208 721 2757.
For more information on the Hawks, visit www.hawksbmx.co.uk.
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