UK COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/cadet_hq_faces_dire_start_to_2011_after_burglary_1_2224953

Cadet HQ faces dire start to 2011 after burglary

Published on Tuesday 04^th January 2011 08:27 AM

THE Northampton Air Cadet unit has suffered a “heartbreaking” start to the new year after more than £3,500 of electrical equipment was stolen from their premises.

Thieves forced their way into the home of the 5F Northampton Squadron, which is based in the grounds of the Northampton TA Centre, in Clare Street, through a fire door in the early hours of Sunday.

Items stolen included four computers, two printers, a laptop computer, a photocopier as well as hundreds of pounds worth of software.

Carol Haynes, flight lieutenant of the Northampton Air Cadets, said the theft of the computers meant the unit would not be able to carry out all its usual activities in the next few months.

She said: “We have 76 cadets and run an internal Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. We log all the records on the computers and, without them, we won’t be able to run the awards programme.

“We never expected this to happen on a Ministry of Defence site. I can’t believe people had the gall to come in and do something like this to a cadet unit.

“It is not like we are the Army, the cadets are kids. It is heartbreaking because the only people who are going to miss out are them.”

Ms Haynes said the unit was not insured for the loss of the equipment so it would have to be replaced from donations or from fund-raising.

She said: “People have worked so hard to raise money for the squadron and for this to happen is a real pain.

“We’ve got a great bunch of cadets and staff here and they deserve everything because they work hard for it.”

The Northampton Air Cadet unit is one of the oldest in the country and regularly takes part in military parades in the town and helps out at charity events in the county.

The 5F Squadron band currently has more than 20 members who meet every Wednesday to prepare for competitions and displays at events such as the Hollowell Steam Rally.

If you would like to make a donation to the air cadet unit or if you have any unused computer equipment, call Northampton 233157. Anyone with any information about the burglary can call Northamptonshire Police on 03000 111 222 or information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111