Hove beach hut repair man has tools stolen

Erwin Van Rooyen’s equipment was taken from the locked beach hut he was working on along Hove promenade last Monday, just two weeks after he took the job on.

He has been forced to sign on to Universal Credit and cancel a camping trip with his two children while he works to replace the stolen property.

“Somebody was probably watching me pack up for the day,” said Erwin.

“It was a complete shock when I got here. I turned up and it was nicely closed again but the locks were on the floor.

Erwin is unable to work after his tools were taken

“I’m absolutely gutted. I started with nothing when I started doing this, and now looking at the cost of everything it’s going to cost about £1,000 to replace.

“I know that people are campaigning for CCTV cameras and to get the police down here a bit more. It’s been going on for quite a while. I think that’s the solution.”

Erwin left his office job in London because of the pandemic, and after repairing one beach hut for a friend he found a new trade by the sea.

He has become a well-known and loved character among beach hut tenants, many of who have shared messages of support via his Go Fund Me page to raise money for replacement tools.

Jane Power, who donated to the fund, said: “Really sorry to read about this, Erwin.

“You've been so generous with offers of help and advice - I hope that the hut community is supportive.”

While another said: “We’ve got to get you back in action, Erwin.”

Erwin’s children are also doing their bit to get him back in business by painting beach hut plaques to sell.

“My daughter, Amber, said she wanted to start painting beach hut signs with numbers, so she’s been trying to sell them to make money,” said Erwin.

Amber, left, with Leo and Erwin painting the beach hut signs

“Both of my children said ‘look, come on Dad, we want to come and help you’. They’re good kids.”

So far Erwin, who lives in Hove, has raised just more than half of his £880 target, and said any donations made by beach hut owners will have the equivalent knocked off any future work they need.

“I believe in karma I just want to give something back to people,” he said.

“I’m also a cognitive behavioural therapy practitioner.

“My main dream is to get a beach hut of my own, hopefully a run-down one, and use it as a mindfulness hub where you can sit one to one, or use it as a little studio where people can do arts and crafts.

“I’d love to bring that to beach huts and give something back to the community. It my dream, and I’m going to work hard towards it.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the theft was reported to them on August 16.

"A quantity of tools were stolen between 5.30pm and 9.30am over the night before," he said.

"Witnesses or anyone with information can report it to us online or on 101 and quote serial 420 of 16/08."

You can donate to Erwin’s Go Fund Me page here.