YOUNGSTERS being given a sporting chance by Worcester Warriors have lost all their work after opportunist thieves struck the club.

About 50 children from the Worcester Warriors Community Foundation’s Walk Like a Warrior and Only Girls Allowed programmes have put plans for a graduation celebration on hold after 13 iPads were stolen from the Sixways stadium.

The schemes help to advance the education of children and young people but the thefts, which happened between 3pm and 3.30pm on Tuesday, November 26, have cost them 10 weeks worth of hard work.

Warriors head of operations Brian Ryan said: “We had an unfortunate incident where opportunist thieves gained access to our Sixways Suite in the West Stand on Tuesday afternoon and forcefully entered a secure door into the Warriors study centre.

“We believe there are four suspects in total. We have given CCTV images of them to the police and are confident in finding those responsible.

“We have an excellent onsite security record and are taking all measures possible to ensure something like this does not happen again.”

West Mercia Police is liaising with management at the stadium in its investigation as well as studying CCTV footage and forensic evidence.

The foundation is the charitable arm of the Warriors that was established to help build a legacy for sport, education, health and social cohesion.

It uses the club’s brand, professional players and staff to engage, educate, motivate, challenge and inspire young people through the power of sport to live an active, healthy and rewarding lifestyle.

Anyone with information should call police, quoting incident 461 s 261113, on the non-emergency number 101.