Bournemouth seafront beach huts broken into and vandalised

Beach hut renters along Fisherman’s Walk woke up to their huts wide open and doors hanging off after a row was raided on Saturday. 

Renters say “around 13” had damage to them in the incident and that this was the second time huts have been vandalised in the space of a week. 

One man, who asked for anonymity, said he pays close to £3,000 a year to rent his hut from the council but called for better security on the huts.

Beach have been boarded up by the council (Image: Daily Echo)

He said: “The security on these huts is not that good because the screws attaching to the door to the hut are not very deep and with a crowbar I would imagine they could be opened pretty easily. 

“They stole beers and alcohol from our hut and there was a little bit of damage including strange markings on the stove and a water bottle that was poured on the floor, so nothing major. 

“We had been broken into six days before – the security is not fit for purpose. There are CCTV cameras along there but they don’t really face the huts.”

Fisherman's Walk beach huts (Image: Daily Echo)

The man was told by a council seafront worker that about 40 huts were broken into the weekend before. 

“It’s a nuisance,” he added. “The doors get left open overnight, a carpenter has to be called out to repair the doors and to happen twice is quite brazen.” 

Bournemouth Beach Hut Association chair Ann Gerrard told the Echo: “The situation is all in hand and I presume everybody affected has been notified. 

“They said [the council] that if there is a break-in in the future they will let me know. 

“There is CCTV cameras and it is managed in Madeira Road where the whole of Bournemouth is monitored, but the cameras move around so if they aren’t facing the right place at the right time, it won’t catch the culprits.” 

It is understood the incident has been reported to the police, but the force could not find any record.

Councillor Millie Earl, deputy leader of BCP Council, said: “We are aware of damage to a number of beach huts at Fisherman’s Walk. Repair work is underway.

“Whilst there is CCTV covering the seafront, we believe this is an isolated episode and have informed the police.”