A stolen trailer containing valuable rowing equipment belonging to Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC) was recovered last week in a remarkable case of serendipity.

The trailer had been stored in a locked car park in front of a Cambridge University Combined Boat Club (CUCBC) boat house on Logan’s Way. Between 3pm on the 27th and 6am on 28th September, the car park was broken into and the trailer stolen.

The contents of the trailer included life jackets, a cox box headset, shoes, seats and two sculling blades, valued collectively at over £400. The trailer itself was worth around £2,000.

The stolen goods were restored to CUWBC when the trailer was identified by Colin Nunn near Milton Community Centre. Andy Gray, manager of the community centre, explained, “A trailer just appeared one day outside the [nearby] Parish Council office.” The trailer remained there for several days until 5th October when Mr. Nunn spotted it.

 “I play down at [Chesterton Indoor Bowls Club on] Logan’s Way and there’s been a trailer parked outside for some time,” said Mr. Nunn. “When I came back to Milton one day I went and had a look and thought it was the same one. Next time I went down to Logan’s Way it wasn’t there.” He then spoke to a member of staff at the bowls club, who told him it had been stolen. “The two tied up,” Mr. Nunn said.

Mr. Nunn continued that Milton Parish Council had already reported that a trailer had been found to the local police station. “You’d think if they knew one had gone missing and one had been found they’d put two and two together,” he said.

A police spokesperson stated that no arrests have been made and that the case is still being investigated. Boat clubs should “take all of the common sense precautions,” he advised, adding that they should ensure premises are “locked up at night and windows kept closed.”

He also advised that fitting automatically activated lights can also reduce the risk of theft and recommended that valuable items are kept in secure properties. Further crime prevention measures can be obtained by contacting the community safety unit.

Although pleased that the equipment has been recovered, CUWBC president Elizabeth Polgreen is frustrated that the press have failed to report accurately on the incident.

Polgreen informed Varsity that CUWBC was contacted by a newspaper that “then ignored everything I said.” She was particularly angry that other publications then copied their stories from the first “and added some fictional bits of their own.”