Fold fear for sea cadets after raids

Costs of replacing stolen equipment and repairs to the building have eaten into Dudley Sea Cadets' funds. The situation has now reached the point where officials say they may have no choice but to close the unit.

The latest attack happened over the weekend and was third time the building in Tipton Road had been broken into during the past fortnight.

Thieves smashed their way through windows and doors and also damaged equipment inside.

Repairs are expected to run into hundreds of pounds yet again and the chairman, Keith Sabin, reveals the unit is now scraping the bottom of the barrel.

A meeting about the group's finances will be held in the next few weeks to decide whether they will stretch to improved security at the site. If the extra cost cannot be met, Mr Sabin warns the group may have to fold, but he is determined it will not go down without a fight.

An appeal has now been launched for ex-members and residents to donate cash to keep the group afloat.

Mr Sabin admitted the latest attack on the headquarters had been a blow.

He said: "Since December this is the seventh time we have been broken into and the third time in two weeks," he said.

"We have some security in place, but it is just not enough. Every time this happens we have to dip into our funds to finance the repairs or replace equipment.

"After so many break-ins things are now looking tight and we really are scraping at the bottom of the barrel to survive."

Mr Sabin is already thinking of what to do next.

He said: "At the meeting we will decide what we can do.

"Better security is needed and, if we cannot afford it, we will have to seriously consider closing the group.

"After so many years we do not want it to end this way."

Mr Sabin added West Midlands Police were investigating the latest break-in at Tipton Road.