A PENSIONER has been left devastated after thieves “took his only hobby away”.

Crooks stole William Broadley’s fishing rods and reels from his car which was parked on his driveway in Old Vicarage Road, Dovercourt.

They also targeted another car where a first responder personnel kit was stolen in nearby Langley Close, Dovercourt, during the same night.

Mr Broadley, 78, said his only “bit of fresh air” was taken away when his fishing equipment was stolen in the early hours of Sunday morning.

His wife, Jackie, 67, said the couple now feel unsafe.

She added: “We feel terrible, we don’t feel safe.

“We are worried they will break into our house next.

“It makes us feel nervous because you never know who is watching your car.”

Mrs Broadley said they could not afford to buy new equipment which could cost them hundreds of pounds.

“More than anything, it had a high sentimental value,” she added.

“It is his only passion and he loves going fishing but now he is bound to the house again.”

Mr Broadley has got Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a chronic inflammatory lung disease.

He added: “I can only get a bit of fresh air when I’m out with my mates fishing. I feel disappointed, extremely distressed.”

Their granddaughter, Shannon Jacqueline Morgan-Garnett, said now her grandad lost his only hobby, he “has lost everything”.

She added: “He is an old age pensioner, the police didn’t even offer to come out to see what happened, basically they are letting the people get away with what they have done.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “When we receive a report of an incident we consider a number of things including the threat of harm or the risk to the public and the investigative opportunities available such as witnesses, CCTV and forensic opportunities.

“On this particular occasion we were not able to identify any investigative opportunities so the investigation was filed. However, this will be reviewed should new information come to light.”