Alness Academy's community spirited bicycle repair programme suffers setback following break-in

Issued by Northern Constabulary

Police are investigating a report of a break-in to a locked container at the rear of Alness Academy.

Between 1430 on Saturday 12 February and 0930 on Monday 14 February 2011 the container was opened and a quantity of tools, with an approx value of between £600 and £700, belonging to the Alness Academy Bike Club were removed.

This is a particularly cruel act given that these tools were being used to fix unclaimed bikes, donated to the school by local Police. The bikes were then used by the school's Bike Club or sold on, at a very competitive price to members of the local community, to raise money to put towards the pupils' attendance at bike competitions in other areas.

The initiative has proved extremely popular in the Ross-shire town and is a huge blow not only to the school pupils, but to the community itself. There are some children who may not have a bicycle, for whatever reason, and they enjoy the health benefits associated with membership of the school's Bike Club.

Head Teacher at the school, Ken MacIver, said: "Obviously this is very depressing news. These tools were used by the bike club mechanics to repair bikes and this was a tremendous enterprise for the school.

"The service they have provided in repairing bikes has been of great value to the local community and the funds raised help fund the Bike Club's activities."

He added: "Our priority is to get back up and running as quickly as possible by finding a way to replace what has been stolen.

"The person(s) responsible have stolen not only from the school but from the whole community and have taken something which was of huge benefit to a lot of people."

Police are encouraging anyone who has any information about this break-in or who may have been offered tools, particularly specialist bike tools, for a reduced price recently, to contact them at Alness on 01349 882222 or call Crimestoppers on 0845 6005703.

Members of the public should also bear in mind that anyone who buys stolen goods may be committing the crime of Reset which could result in them being reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Remember: if you are offered a "bargain," which looks too good to be true, it probably is.