Beck Row: US servicemen speak of disappointment following motorbike thefts

The stolen Harley-Davidson (Image: Copyright 2009)

Technical Sergeant John Rouintree, who is based at RAF Lakenheath, said the theft of his blue and white Suzuki GSX-R1000 also affected others as he volunteers as a motorbike class instructor on the American bases in the area.

His bike, which is worth between £5,000 and £6,000, was taken from a garage at his home in Linden Walk, Beck Row, between 5pm on Sunday, May 5, and 9am the following day.

In a separate incident, a black Harley-Davidson Street Bob motorbike was stolen from a garage at a home in Magnolia Close, Beck Row, between 5pm on Saturday, May 4 and 11.45am on Monday, May 6.

Sergeant Jason Payne, owner of the stolen Harley-Davidson and who is based at RAF Mildenhall, said, including shipping costs, his bike cost him 17,000 US dollars.

TSgt Rouintree, 32, who works in aircraft maintenance and enjoyed riding his bike at tracks including Snetterton, said he felt “disappointed” over what had happened. “It’s a shame somebody could just take something like that from someone, something I have worked hard to get and involved a lot of time and money to get it here.”

Sergeant Payne, 39, who is an aircraft maintenance superintendent, said: “It’s my first Harley. I will never get it back.”

Both servicemen said similar thefts seemed to happened every spring or summer in the area.

Pc Victoria McNamara, of Brandon Safer Neighbourhood Team, said the police would always advise owners of motorbikes to consider extra security measures for the building it is kept in, for example chaining it to a ground anchor.

Anyone with information about the thefts should call Suffolk Police on 101.