Bobby the policeman with Ross Hills, two, and Amy Hills, one, with their uncle Shane Foley.
POLICE on the Isle of Wight have been called to investigate a theft — of a police uniform.
The uniform, including a Kent Constabulary helmet, was stripped from a mannequin policeman, stationed in a family’s old red telephone box.
Handyman Mick Wright, who put the dummy in an old red telephone box in the garden of his home in North Road, Shanklin, said:"Bobby, as we call him, is much-loved by our young grandchildren and they were really upset when they discovered he had been stripped by a thief.
"He was great fun for our grandchildren and often had holidaymakers laughing and taking pictures.
"We had just arrived back from St Thomas's Children’s Hospital in London where our six-week-old granddaughter, Amelia, had undergone life-saving heart surgery when we discovered the theft at about 12.30am on Saturday.
"We moved from Bromley, south London, a year ago with Bobby and can’t believe that this has happened on the Island as the locals seemed so nice. Bobby was perfectly safe in London."
Mick said he was concerned someone might use the helmet to impersonate a real-life officer but that the rest of the uniform, being home-made — with ten pence pieces for buttons and bearing the number PC 69 on the shoulders — was clearly useless to the thief.
"If anyone has information it would be really appreciated, as would return of the uniform, or indeed the offer of a replacement policeman’s helmet or jacket from anyone else who has one.
"Next time I’ll make sure Bobby is safely under lock and key," he said.
Police said information could be given on 101, or anonymously by phoning the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
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Bobby the policeman, who has had his helmet and jacket stolen.