A traditional Nottinghamshire longbow maker has had almost his entire stock stolen in a theft he believes may have been planned by someone within the archery community.
Peter Bakewell, 74, has made bows for more than 50 years – creating some of the sport’s most respected designs.
He says was left “absolutely devastated” after discovering the break-in at his Bakewell Bows workshop on the Welbeck Estate, north of Mansfield and on the edge of Sherwood Forest, on Friday morning (October 27).
After climbing through a window and breaking through doors, thieves helped themselves to around 20 bows worth a total of around £10,000.
They also took strings, arrows and other equipment – but left most of the workshop’s valuable power tools.
“Where the workshop is, there’s no advertising outside, no-one would know what’s inside unless they had been here before or had been told,” said Mr Bakewell.
“It’s upsetting because I’m not in the business to make money. I do it because I enjoy it, I could have retired years ago but chose to carry on.”
“It has got to be a targeted theft because of what’s been taken.”
He’s now asking people within the sport to keep an eye out for the bows – and to contact him or the police if they see them offered for sale.
Each one takes three weeks to a month to make with a variety of wood types, and each has their own serial number.
“The amount of calls I’ve had since has been heartening,” he added.
“People have been very supportive, saying they will pass the news around their archery clubs and let people know to be on the lookout for them.”
Most of the bows stolen were being made partly for a show being held on December 5 at the Spirit of Sherwood field archery ground, off the A1 near Worksop.
Mr Bakewell says he still plans to attend, after other archers and bow-makers said they would lend him equipment.
He added: “Whoever has stolen them, if they’ve seen the reaction, they’ll struggle to sell them, the news is travelling everywhere.”
Anyone with information about the theft, which happened overnight between Thursday, October 26, and Friday, October 27, is asked to contact Notts Police on 101, or Crimestopppers anonymously on 0800 55111.
