"Hard hearted louts" steal garden furniture used by Epsom's elderly

"Hard-hearted louts" have stolen garden furniture used by the elderly at a community centre.

The furniture was taken overnight on Wednesday, May 30, from the Longmead Centre on Sefton Road, Epsom.

The furniture was used by pensioners to sit and chat in the sun following sessions at the centre and was kept in a locked outside space.

Police have CCTV images of a number of men climbing over the high barrier and stealing the table and chairs.

Equipment used in the theft, including a hacksaw, was left at the scene.

Councillor Jean Steer, chair of the social committee, said: "I am so incensed, I could weep.

"The services that the council provide for pensioners are run on a very tight budget and, in some circumstances, their visit to the Longmead Centre is the one opportunity that these elderly members of our community get to leave their homes for a meal, company and some entertainment.

"The hard-hearted louts that have deprived these pensioners of one of their few pleasures should be thoroughly ashamed".

Anyone with information should call the police on 101.

(Reproduced from yourlocalguardian.co.uk  6th June)

Gardien Comment: Hopefully the CCTV images will be of sufficient quality to identify the culprits - property marking with SelectaDNA might well have deterred the thieves, or an audible warning triggered by the CCTV unit.