Cash reward after guard dog poisoned during raid on Scarisbrick motorbike yard

Jan 3 2013 by Tom Duffy, Ormskirk Advertiser

A CHILD’S Christmas present was stolen and a guard dog poisoned during a raid on a Scarisbrick workshop.

A kid’s Kawasaki KX85 Small Wheel trial bike and French Army Military Cagiva 350 were snatched from the yard off Southport Road and bundled in the back of a white van on December 23.

The Kawasaki was a Christmas present, although the company sourced a replacement on Christmas Eve to avoid disappointing the little boy.

The German Shepherd dog, which belonged to a member of staff, is now recovering after being either poisoned or drugged by the gang.

The incident took place at about 8.10pm, when the mechanics had popped into a neighbouring house for a tea break.

A member of the public witnessed the raid, and said that three men ran out of the yard with the bikes and got in to a white roofer’s van.

The Southport Motorcycle company is now offering a cash reward for any information that leads to a prosecution or the recovery of the bikes.

The French military bike had recently been imported in to the UK by the company.

The exceptionally rare Army bike is particularly robust and features a stealth switch which cuts off the lights when the rider comes under enemy fire.

A spokesman for the company told the Advertiser that the bike would be ideal for Merseyside crime gangs.

He said: “We are the only company in the country importing this type of bike to the UK. The bike that has been stolen is unique.

“Our main objective is for the police to catch up with his gang.

“I suspect a Merseyside gang or even a dodgy breaker’s yard that are involved in this type of crime. We have now improved our security.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that two motorbikes were stolen and that a dog was poisoned during the raid.

Call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Southport Motorcycles can be contacted on 07875 164977.