POLICE are today hunting for a gang of professional thieves who stole boat engines worth �35,000 from a sailing club in the resort.

Bosses at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club were distraught when they discovered they had been targeted by the thieves, who also caused damage at the scene.

It is believed boat masts at the club were used to destroy CCTV cameras before they stole four outboard engines from the club’s boats.

Angle grinders were used to cut off the security locks on the engines.

The engines were worth in the region of �35,000 and money will also have to be spent to repair the damage they caused.

Max Evans, the sailing club’s commodore, said: “Clearly we were very upset and disappointed. We have never had a theft of this type before.

“They (members of the club) are all the same – annoyed, disappointed and cross.”

“Everybody suffers. I have no doubt that we will replace them but the issue is how do we prevent it re-occurring?

“Our main preoccupation now is not to solve the crime, it’s too replace the engines and ensure that the replacements don’t get pinched.”

Commodore Evans added that the club is currently discussing the theft with insurers to determine what help they will receive in replacing the engines.

The boats that were targeted in the raid were all on the shore and all four of the engines that were stolen were Yamaha models.

Two of the engines were used by members of the adult club, while the other two were used by the youth set-up.

“It’s disappointing for the kids,” added Mr Evans.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said the force is aware of the incident and is currently carrying out inquiries in an attempt to find the thieves.

The theft happened sometime between noon on Friday and 8am on Saturday.

It is believed at least two people would have been involved, due to the weight of the engines, and it is expected that a van would have also been used to take them away.

If you have any information about the incident, or if you saw something suspicious in the area, call PC Robert Hinson at Suffolk police on 101.

? Have you been a victim of professional thieves? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or send an e-mail to starletters@archant.co.uk