THE clerk of Laxey Commissioners was left a without his car keys, mobile phone, wallet and trousers after a theft on Laxey Promenade on Saturday.
Peter Burgess had been swimming in the sea with his family, having left his clothes and towel on the sea wall opposite the public toilets at the southern end of the beach, when an opportunist made off with his jeans and their contents, including an iPhone.
Mr Burgess is now appealing for people to help police retrieve his possessions.
‘I was swimming with my daughter. My clothes and towel weren’t far away, they were near enough to be in sight but I just wasn’t paying attention,’ he said.
‘I’ve done it on numerous occasions, especially when there are plenty of people around. It’s the Isle of Man, people feel they can leave their cars unlocked and things like that. I was extremely miffed to find them gone, but we shouldn’t be complacent with belongings.’
Did the theft leave him stranded with no car, money or trousers?
‘Not quite,’ he said. ‘I only live two minutes walk from the beach, and fortunately my house keys weren’t on the same key ring as the ones that were taken.
‘I had a spare set of car keys, there wasn’t much cash in the wallet and I cancelled the debit card straight away.’
Mr Burgess added: ‘I haven’t come across any reports of similar thefts so I’m hoping it’s an isolated incident. It is a wake up call, but people shouldn’t be put off from the beach, Laxey is a lovely place to be on a sunny afternoon. The police have it in hand.’
The theft took place between 2.30pm and 3pm on Saturday. The items stolen include a pair of grey-coloured Marks and Spencer jeans, a black iPhone, black wallet and a set of car keys on a beige-coloured key fob.
The investigating officer, PC Will Moffatt, of Ramsey police, said: ‘It is my understanding that the promenade area was busy with people at the time on what was a warm sunny day.’
He added: ‘This appears to be an opportunist theft which has caused considerable disruption, upset and loss to the aggrieved party in this matter.’
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ramsey police station on 812234 or any police officer.