Washington Crossfit gym targeted twice by thieves in attempted break-in as police launch appeal

Crossfit Tailored Training on Sedling Road, Wear Industrial Estate, Washington, has had three security cameras stolen and windows damaged in two separate incidents.

The attempted break-ins happened within days of each other and now co-owners John-Lee Lydon and Michael Williamson believe their business is being targeted.

The first incident took place just before midnight on Monday, August 10, where one of the security cameras was ‘grinded down’ by those involved.

The camera was replaced and an additional one put up but around one week later – in the early hours of Monday, August 17 – the two cameras were taken down.

Mesh covering two of the building’s windows had also been cut.

Co-owner John-Lee, 38, said CCTV footage shows three men looking through the windows and trying the door, but said those involved did not managed to gain access and nothing was taken.

He said: "It looks like we are being targeted. But we are a gym so there is nothing to take and if you did try to take anything it would be a big job as all the equipment is very heavy.”

The gym stressed that there is no cash on the premises and confirmed both incidents have been reported to Northumbria Police.

This is the first time such incidents have happened to the business – which has an alarm system and CCTV cameras – in the years it has been open.

John-Lee and his team are now hoping to raise awareness of the incidents and are looking to increase their security measures in an effort to prevent further damage being done.

He continued: "We found out from the business next to us that someone had hit their camera and turned it away from our building.

"This has not affected our business at all but if they had managed to get in it really would have affected it, especially with the coronavirus pandemic as we have only just opened up.

"We are building memberships back up and this is just stress that we didn’t need.

"But we do have a really great membership base who have given us a lot of support, asking if we had tried various security measures.

“People are really looking out for us."

A Northumbria Police spokesman added: "We can confirm we have received two separate reports of thefts from Crossfit Tailored Training, Sedling Road, Washington.

"It was reported that on August 10 that CCTV equipment was stolen from outside the premises.

"A week later on August 17 it was reported that the replacement camera had been stolen and the property’s windows had sustained damage.

"Inquiries into the thefts are ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or through the 'Report an Incident' section of our website by quoting 949 170820."

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