CRICKETERS playing in East Yorkshire believe they have been the victim of a suspected thief targeting sports clubs across the country.
Five Scalby players returned to the changing room at Sewerby to find a total of £155 missing from their wallets.
The culprit is believed to be Anthony Tye, who is alleged to have carried out a spate of thefts in Bristol, Preston in Lancashire and the West Midlands.
Paul Hesp, 40, assistant secretary of the cricket club in Scarborough, said: "We were elated as we had won the game and been promoted to the Premier Division.
"We got back to the changing rooms and one of the lads checked his wallet and asked who had played a joke and taken his money.
"After a couple of minutes we found out five people had money taken. It could have been more, but there were people sat around outside who might have scared him off."
Mr Hesp could not believe it when he searched for cricket ground theft on the internet and a familiar photograph turned up on a newspaper website in Bath.
"I was dumbstruck. It looked like the same man," he said.
"Not long after our arrival at the ground, we became aware of an older grey-haired gentleman sitting on the benches under the pavilion who seemed quite talkative.
"We thought he was a Sewerby supporter. At one stage he even helped carry the juice during the drinks break.
"We've seen him come out of the changing rooms with a toilet brush.
"We asked a couple of Sewerby players who the man was, but they didn't know."
Humberside Police have confirmed they are investigating the link between this theft and others around the country, believed to have been carried out by Mr Tye.
Mr Hesp said: "I would advise all sports clubs to be very wary of this man and if seen inform the police."
The theft took place in the away team changing room at Sewerby between 1.30pm and 5.30pm last Saturday.
The police spokesman said: "A man is circulated as wanted for similar offences across the country and Humberside Police would also like to speak to him in connection with this incident."
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting crime number 2062800.
'Never leave valuables in changing rooms'AVON and Somerset Police are also among the forces wishing to speak to Anthony Tye about the thefts.
They have described the 60-year-old as having greying brown hair, who dresses casually and usually carries a black rucksack.
PC Margaret Wood, of Bath's Priority Crime Team, said: "No valuables or money should be left in changing rooms. Put them in a bag and give it to a nominated and responsible person."
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