CCTV footage caught the moment two brazen thieves stole a slide from outside a pre-school in Milnrow.
The playground equipment was snatched from the school on Charles Lane just after 3am on Thursday morning (May 4). Melanie, manager at the pre-school, said two men appeared to have been involved in the incident.
She said one of the suspects appeared to use a tool to cut through the fence. The CCTV footage then captured a man lifting the slide over the fencing, before he appeared to jump back over himself.
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Melanie told the Manchester Evening News: "They have taken the slide, they tried to steal the playhouse which is now damaged. The slide was well used we've had it for a couple of years, it wasn't like it was brand new.
"It was much-loved by the children. We're all flabbergasted and the kids are gutted."
She said that staff, who were left 'repulsed' by the theft, have searched the local area to see if the slide has been dumped, but have not been able to find it. Melanie added that parents and people in local community had been 'amazing', with a fundraising page set up to replace the slide.
The theft has been reported to Greater Manchester Police.
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