Sports clubs are being urged to be vigilant following recent break-ins which involved high-value machinery being stolen.

Devon and Cornwall Police said an orange 2024 Kubota ride-on lawn mower and trailer worth £30,000 was taken from Ogwell Youth Football Club after a storage area was broken into overnight on 12 December.

Hours later on 13 December, burglars broke into a lock-up at Bude Town Football Club and stole a New Holland Boomer 25 Compact tractor, valued at £16,500.

Both clubs said the burglaries would have a big impact on daily operations. Police have asked anyone with information or relevant footage from the incidents to contact the force.

PC Neil Sommerfeld said the burglaries in Ogwell and Bude were the latest in a series of break-ins targeting sports clubs over recent months.

He said sports clubs were vital to their local communities and often relied on volunteers to survive.

“Targeting sports clubs shows no regard for the players, volunteers, supporters and coaches at these clubs”, he added.

Ogwell Youth Football Club, who have about 140 players aged from five to 16, said they are now facing an “unexpected and significant” financial burden following the burglary.

“Without the ability to maintain the pitches or repair the damage caused during the break-in, we may be forced to make some extremely difficult decisions that could impact opportunities for these young players,” the club said.

“The mower was bought in 2021 and aside from the initial cost has had £8,000 also spent on essential repairs.

“Sadly, it was not insured leaving the club to face a significant and unexpected financial burden.”

Bude Town Football Club addressed the burglary on a recent Facebook post.

The club said: “This is an absolute hammer blow to us as it is probably our club’s biggest asset,

“With the amount of hard work and man hours from the club volunteers into raising money to maintain our club, for this to happen is just gut wrenching.”