Cycle centre for disabled targeted

Photo: Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

Kevin Lanham: the raiders must be caught.

‘Find the scum raiders’ plea
THIEVES have broken into a centre which hires bicycles out to disabled people in Oldham.

The Wheels for All centre, based on the Kings Road car park at Alexandra Park, was targeted between 3.30pm on Saturday and 10.30am on Sunday.

They forced the shutters before ransacking the office, where they wrecked filing cabinets and a desk.

Cash, a camera used for promotional activities, tools and spare keys — locked in a filing cabinet — to Cycle Club Oldham were stolen in the raid.

Thieves used the keys to steal a £300 MX 5 black ridgeback mountain bike with a 19in frame.

Forensic officers have combed the scene and police are still investigating.

Wheels for All is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and is used by 70 people with disabilities and/or additional needs on a regular basis.

Project co-ordinator Kevin Lanham, who helped set up the Wheels for All project in October, said he was disgusted by the mess when he turned up to open the centre on Sunday.

It took him two hours to clean up.

He said: “I think the people who have done this are absolute scum.

“They’ve attacked a community project which is there for the people who really need it — and what for? A cheap buck.

“I hope they catch the low lives who did this. Forensics say they wore gloves as they’ve found material fibres everywhere.”

Jason Bromley, of Cycle Club Oldham said: “I would know if I spotted that bike on the streets because it doesn’t have the hydraulic brakes as we took them off and changed them.

“I hope these people are really proud of themselves — we’ve just got to face facts that there are always going to be dysfunctional cretins who like to ruin things for everyone else.

“We are still running and encourage people to come down.”

Riders can hire bikes from both centres to explore the park at their own pace or take advantage of the cycle path network linking to other parts of the borough.

If they need assistance, instructors help out.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or knows of the whereabouts of the stolen bike can call Oldham police on 0161-872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.