A VOLUNTARY river rescue organisation has had two outboard engines stolen from their base in Upton-upon-Severn.

Thieves broke into the Midland Inshore Search Rescue’s (MISAR) headquarters, at Upton Marina, sometime between Sunday, October 25, and 8pm on Thursday evening.

Chairman Dave Walker said two Mariner engines with a combined value of £10,000 had been removed from two rescue boats after a padlock was cut from the steel entrance doors. One of the engines is a Mariner four-stroke 60-horsepower model and the other is a Mariner two-stroke 40-horse power engine.

As previously reported in your Worcester News MISAR have been banned from assisting the emergency services with search and rescue operations due to health and safety concerns.

Mr Walker said discussions with police are ongoing with the hope of getting the matter resolved.

Mr Walker said MISAR has still been using their rescue boats for regular training exercises and doesn’t think the recent ban highlighted them as a target for thieves.

Police are investigating the burglary and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. A force spokeswoman said: “The engines are very distinctive so we would urge anyone who is offered the engines for sale to contact police straight away.”

Anyone with information should call the police on 0300 333 3000 quoting 271N/291009.