EQUIPMENT was stolen during a break-in at a pavilion used by organisers of a popular Parkrun event in Worcester.
Dai Morris, one of the organisers of the Pitchcroft event, said he was alerted to the break-in after council staff spotted a leak coming from the pavilion at Worcester Racecourse.
Someone had broken into the building and stolen the event’s four-wheel trolley and attempted to rip out copper piping.
When he arrived, Mr Morris said the PA system, the most expensive piece of equipment used for the event, was also missing. This was later found in a skip.
LEAK: There was a leak at the pavilion on Pitchcroft after someone tried to rip out copper piping (Image: Worcester Pitchcroft Parkrun)
“Worcester City Council was notified by one of their service people who saw water coming from the building,” he said.
“Someone had tried to steal copper pipes.
“We couldn’t find our PA system, which costs about £250. A four wheel trolley, which we use to shift equipment around Pitchcroft, was also missing.
“We found that the PA system had been hidden in a skip, maybe for someone to come and get later. ”
With the break-in having taken place on Thursday (June 11), organisers feared that Parkrun, which takes place on Saturday mornings, may have to be cancelled.
READ MORE: Drunk driver with worn out slick tyres among those sentenced at Worcester’s court
“The concern was that we wouldn’t be able to put on the Parkrun event and not having lavatories,” Mr Morris said.
After sharing news of the incident on the event’s Facebook page, he said he was met with “generosity” from the community, with another local running group offering a trolley to use.
POSITIVITY: More than 500 people took part in Parkrun at Pitchcroft despite the break-in (Image: Worcester Pitchcroft Parkrun)
“We had a lot of positivity and gratitude and we had messages of support from other Parkrun events,” Mr Morris said.
“There has been a lot of generosity, with people offering financial help and offering us kit.”
It meant that the event did go ahead as planned on Saturday (June 13), with more than 500 runners taking part and 38 volunteers getting involved.
