Sussex shooting ground rocked by £30,000 theft

Thieves have made off with £30,000 worth of air rifles and other equipment in a raid on Polowood Shooting Ground in Brighton. The owner’s been left scrambling to fulfil bookings.

The criminals struck overnight, accessing the St Mary’s Farm site by driving through hedgerows and cutting barbed wire fences. Twenty-five Weihrauch break-barrel air rifles, worth £600 each, made up the bulk of the haul. Owner Gary Coomber discovered the break-in when he arrived at work to find the main gate wide open.

Sussex Police said: “Garden equipment including a Stihl chainsaw, as well as a number of Weihrauch break-barrel air rifles and cash, were taken during the burglary. We are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward and report it to Sussex Police online or on 101, quoting serial 332 of 24/07.”

The theft couldn’t have come at a worse time, with 40 people booked for activities the next day. This is the fourth break-in at the Sussex ground, though the first in seven years. The facility offers clay pigeon and rifle shooting and other outdoor activities.

Mr Coomber has alerted local gunshops, hoping to make the stolen goods “too hot to handle” for buyers.

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