Police close case after equipment stolen from Mulbarton FC

Mulbarton Wanderers FC had its John Deere tractor and Quadraplay pitch marking machine taken from a storage shed at the end of the club's Mulberry Park ground between November 2 and 5 last year.

The theft left the club's grounds staff without any equipment ahead of games being played at the ground, with the club playing at step nine of the football pyramid, in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Premier Division.

Seven months on the burglars have managed to escape punishment after police confirmed an investigation into the incident had been closed.

Mulbarton FC had £28,000 worth of equipment stolen in November last year (Image: Mulbarton FC)

A police spokeswoman said: "The case has been closed and all lines of enquiry have been exhausted, pending any new information."

Duane James, former chairman of the club who left at the end of the season, said back in November: "It's £28,000 worth of equipment which the club's only had about three months."

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Mr James added he was "having to pay staff or contractors" to come out and get the pitch ready for games while trying to sort out the insurance.

The equipment was believed to have been stolen between November 2 - 5, 2023 (Image: Mulbarton FC)

It cost the club roughly £100 a pitch to prep until Mr James could get anything back through the insurance.

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As well as the main pitch being affected there were also seven children's pitches which were out of commission.

Some of the items stolen were a John Deere tractor and Quadraplay pitch marking machine at the club's Mulberry Park ground (Image: Mulbarton FC)

Mulbarton FC has been contacted for comment after learning of the police's decision to close the case.

Mr James said the incident was "frustrating" and not something the area would usually experience.

"I'm annoyed because you don't expect this to happen, but it has and there's not too much we can do about it," he said.

Police say all lines of enquiry have been exhausted (Image: Newsquest)