Bingo callers at a vandal-hit pensioners’ club have been silenced after thieves made off with their microphone and audio equipment.
It was the fourth break-in at Parkfields Leisure Club in Wolverhampton in less than a week, leaving fed-up leaseholder Paul Hickman on the brink of quitting. The 55-year-old boss has been plagued by intruders during his time at the centre, with 81 burglaries over 16 years. He said: “I’m at my wits’ end, I just don’t know how much longer I can keep going.”
Members of the Over-50s club had to go without their regular afternoon of bingo yesterday following the latest series of raids.
Up to 60 pensioners play the numbers game at the Rooker Avenue centre every Wednesday.
Club secretary Margaret Simpkin said they were dismayed at the loss of the microphone and three speakers. Also taken were two CD players, two amplifiers and a quantity of beer and spirits from the bar.
She said: “There’s nothing else for the elderly to do round here. They really look forward to their game of bingo during the week. We don’t want to stop playing but we don’t know how much longer the club will be able to stay open.”
The intruders smashed a three-foot hole in a wall to get into the premises and although staff blocked it up, the thieves were easily able to knock it through again. It has now been filled with concrete blocks and steel rods.
Mr Hickman, who lives opposite the club, said: “I’ve stayed up half the night since the latest raids to try and catch whoever’s doing it but it’s starting to affect my health and family life.
“I can’t afford contents insurance any more and the cost of replacing what’s stolen leaves me with no profit whatsoever. It’s hardly worth keeping the club open.”
Local youngsters have also fallen victim after a weekly disco has had to be scrapped before it even got off the ground.
“They were going to DJ it themselves but when they came for a practice session on Monday, I had to send them away,” said Mr Hickman, who believes the break-ins are drug-related.
Police are investigating the raids which took place between last Thursday and Sunday. About £1,000 worth of equipment and alcohlol was stolen.
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