Security is so lax at a leisure centre, a child could be taken, claimed a customer.

Jim Wilson, of Church Road, Wickham Bishops, made the claim after his car was stolen.

He said there should be a CCTV system at Blackwater Leisure Centre to prevent crime.

He was at the leisure centre in Park Drive, Maldon, on Sunday when thieves broke into his locker and took his car keys. When he and his wife went outside, they were shocked to find their Lexus RX300 car had also gone.

He said: "I think this opens up the issue that anyone could wander in and out of the centre without being seen.

"There is a more secure entry system now but if someone decides to take a child, will that stop them?"

But Ray Stannard, crime reduction officer at Maldon police, said the presence of security cameras would still not guarantee criminals would be caught.

A spokesman for Maldon District Council said: "Leisure Connection manage the building but we will raise the issue with them at a meeting next week to find out what they are planning to do."

Published Thursday, January 13, 2005

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