Manly Warringah BMX Club, the family sporting organisation that Manly Observer featured in August 2022, has been burgled.
On Monday morning (8 May), the community group discovered their clubhouse and storage facility in Terrey Hills was prized open, its contents ransacked and stolen.
Club Board Member, Renata Radogna told Manly Observer, “our container has been broken into last night. All the bikes have been stolen, computers and other electronic gadgets, basically flooring our small club!”
The association is a non-profit community facility that hosts riders from all over the Northern Beaches district.
“It would help to spread the word, just in case somebody has heard anything,” she requested.
A photo of one of the stolen BMX bikes is pictured below, if anyone is approached to buy it.
Manly Warringah BMX Club is one of the oldest BMX clubs in Australia and was featured in the 1983 movie “BMX Bandits” starring a 16-year-old Nicole Kidman in her first feature film. Based in Terrey Hills for over 20 years, where there is a dedicated race circuit and a practice track, the club hosts 140 active riders of all ages and skill levels, including the 2021-22 national champion in the 40+ age group, Seaton Spratt.
However, the club runs on a shoestring budget – its track is worn and needs a new coat of bitumen, its facilities limited – and the storage shed/clubhouse that was broken into and burgled is a steel box, a converted former shipping container.
When this reporter visited the site Monday morning after the break-in, Club Treasurer Neil Cummings was repairing the damaged container.
“We lost half a dozen bikes and the club’s computer, among other things” Neil despaired. “Basically, thieves have forced their way in and passed everything out through the window, then driven off.
“We can’t afford this sort of setback, we’re run by volunteers who do it for the love of the sport.”
Renata added, “It is such a shame that things like this happen, we are such a friendly club and it is upsetting to be targeted.”
Anyone with any information is requested to contact NSW Police. Frenchs Forest Police Station, phone: 02 9452 9599
A GoFundMe page has since been established to help towards replacement equipment.. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-manly-bmx-club-get-back-on-the-bike
Manly Warringah BMX Club
Webpage http://manlywarringahbmx.com.au/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Manlywarringahbmx/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/manlywarringahbmx/
