Thieves made off with 49 outboard engines and various power tools after breaking into a Hampshire sailing club on Sunday evening.

Thousands of pounds worth of equipment was stolen from Hythe Sailing Club, with engines being ripped from boats and a secure storage unit forced open.

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The culprits cut through security fencing that surrounds the site before helping themselves to the items.

A range of engines were stolen during the incident, including models from Yamaha, Tohatsue, Mercury Mariner and Suzuki.

The sailing club has now stopped offering engine storage facilities at the site, something they’ve done for 10 years, in the hope that it will deter theives from targeting them again.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, vice commodore Michael Thomas said: “This appears to be a targeted attack and people are rightly annoyed and upset by it.

“We have got a quarter of our members out of pocket right before the Easter weekend when people were hoping to get out on the water. It is really disappointing.

“The value our members will be able to claim from the insurance will not cover replacement costs and the money these thieves will get from selling these engines will be nowhere near the value of what our members have lost.”

The club has committed to ramping up security and surveillance equipment in light of recent events.

Police say substantial transport would have been needed to remove the stolen engines and would like to hear from anyone who say anything suspicious or knows who’s responsible.

The authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them on 101 quoting crime reference 44150106651 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.