Haddington: Forensics helping to identify motorbike thieves

The bikes – a Honda CRF and a Talaria Sting – were taken from the town's Bridge Centre, which is home to the Bridge Centre Motorcycle Project.

Constable Kiera Edmond highlighted the incident, on the town's Poldrate, in a written report to Haddington and District Community Council, which meets this evening.

She noted that there had also been a break-in to an outhouse on the town’s Sidegate on October 15.

The officer said: “A reminder to be vigilant now the darker nights are here and remember to lock your doors and garages. Investing in a camera/ring doorbell is a great deterrent too.

“The Bridge Centre was also broken into, with two bikes taken from the motorcycle project.

“There is CCTV footage and forensics ongoing to trace those responsible.”

Amanda Clelland, senior project development worker with the Bridge Centre Motorcycle Project, estimated the value of the stolen bikes at more than £5,000.

She said: "It is obviously devastating what has happened and especially stealing from us because we are a charity as well.

"Our young people are really disappointed but we have still been able to deliver our school groups, which is really good.

"We have got enough bikes to manage that but the young people are gutted by it.

"It is a real shame it has happened."

The Bridge Centre Motorcycle Project, which was first established in 1990 before becoming a full-time charity nine years later, uses off-road motorcycles and team activities to engage with young people and support them through challenges that they may be experiencing in everyday life.

Ultimately, the scheme, which works with young people aged from 11 to 24, is aimed at promoting inclusion and social welfare.

Last summer, Community Windpower Ltd provided the project with a donation of nearly £4,000 to fund the cost of its first electric motorcycle, a Talaria Sting.

Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101 with incident number 0574 of October 15.