Little Bowden: 'Amazing' support for scout leader after equipment theft

Connor was worried he would not be able to do his Silver Duke of Edinburgh

A teenage scout leader has thanked people who rallied round to help replace his stolen camping equipment.

Connor, 15, briefly left two rucksacks unattended outside his aunt's house in Little Bowden, Leicestershire, after a weekend away helping out at a scout camp.

CCTV appears to show a man with a crutch pick up the bags and walk off.

His mother Karen said he had lost about £1,000 of gear which he had saved up to buy.

Leicestershire Police said it was investigating the theft, which happened in Rectory Lane at about 14:30 BST on Sunday 28 May, after Connor and the 1st Bowdens scouts had returned from an expedition in Derbyshire.

Connor has been able to replace some of his missing kit thanks to the donations

Karen said: "He was really upset. Those rucksacks had his radio, his bluetooth speakers, his flint and steel [fire starter], his camping stove, his pots and pans and all his utensils.

"All his clothing had gone.

"There was a lot of brand new stuff he bought for himself after saving up from a little part time job he has.

"He was so upset."

"He loves his scouting," she added.

"It's how he does his bit for the community."

She said Connor had started an online fund-raising page after the theft and more than £750 had been pledged.

"He's gone from being devastated to being amazed and so happy with how people have responded," she added.

"He was worried he worried he'd miss his camps over the summer and wouldn't be able to do his silver Duke of Edinburgh in September."

Connor, picture on camp in Edale, has thanked everyone who helped him after the theft

Connor, who has started to replace his stolen equipment, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon with the amount of people who have donated. I'm so grateful for what they have done.

"A good portion of them are from the 1st Bowdens scout group and friends and family but also people with no personal connection to us at all.

"Everything I saved up for and bought was in those rucksacks for that expedition.

"I want to say a massive thank you to the Harborough scouting community and everyone else."

Anyone with information about the theft is urged to call Leicestershire Police.