YOBS have broken into Tadley Scout Den for the fourth time this year and stolen £1,200 worth of equipment, including three air rifles.

The burglary is believed to have taken place last Friday night, just days before landlord Tesco was due to give the hall in Mulfords Hill, Tadley, a much-needed facelift with a brand-new kitchen and improvements to secure the front door.

Tadley police are particularly concerned about the theft of the air weapons, which were stolen from the Adventure Ranger store cupboard.

Pc Phil Pankhurst, said: "Air weapons look like ordinary rifles even though they don't operate like them.

"If anyone saw someone carrying one of these, it would look quite sinister and would prompt an armed response from the police."

Two of the air weapons have been retrieved by Tadley police after they were abandoned in the nearby area, but the third gun is still missing.

Pc Pankhurst added that the Scout hut has just become a specified "hot spot" for police patrols because it has been targeted so much by thieves and vandals.

Two weeks ago the hut was broken into when vandals smashed the security light, tore down a partition wall and stole two boxes of sweets from the Adventure Ranger store cupboard.

Brian Spray, Tadley Scout Group chairman, said he hoped this week's improvements, which include new metal panels around the front door, will give the den a new lease of life.

He said: "The vandalism annoys the parents and the kids. "We probably get about 100 children through here in a week, and the vandalism just spoils all of their fun.

"We have spent £2,000 on repairing damage done by vandals this year, and we've spent another £2,700 on decorating, which had to be done because vandals sprayed paint everywhere. My hopes are that they will leave us alone now, but that's a big hope.

"The vandalism is becoming very hard to put up with, and I don't really know what other solution there is."

Construction workers fitted the new metal surround and kitchen on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Tadley police are appealing for anyone with any information about the burglary or whereabouts of the missing air rifle to contact Pc Richard Holland on 0845 0454545 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.