CCTV is the only way to keep property safe on Beer beach.

That’s the message from boat owners Bob Kingsley and Danny Clinch, whose outboard motors were both stolen at the weekend.

They say the vessels were as secure as they could make them but ‘knowledgeable’ thieves targeted them, disconnected the heavy motors and made off with everything not nailed down.

“It’s just sickening,” said Danny, who will have to pay more than £2,000 to replace his motor and rewire it after the cables were cut.

“I’ve been in the village all my life and never had trouble. They won’t beat me – it’ll be welded in place next time.

“We need CCTV down there and the council needs to make sure the lights are working – they got away because they had the cover of darkness.”

Bob added: “It’s certainly not something you expect to happen in Beer – it’s not a quiet beach and there’s so little darkness,” he said.

“I think we would all like to see CCTV down there.”

He said it was the ideal time for the boats to be targeted as they had just been serviced for the summer season.

He took his out on Saturday, but when his daughter Annalise headed to the beach the following day, she found the motor missing.

The boat had been covered and locked, but the thieves worked their way in to take the outboard, together with the life jackets, fuel pumps – everything they could remove.

A spokesman for East Devon District Council, which owns the beach, said: “Provision of CCTV cameras at this spot is unfortunately not an option due to the cost implications and ongoing pressure on budgets.

“We would advise anyone with valuable gear on the beach to make their own arrangements to secure the equipment so as to deter thieves.”

He said the single remaining floodlight for the area will be checked to ensure it is in working order.

Anyone with information on the incidents, which took place between 6pm on Saturday and 2pm on Monday, is asked to call the police on 101 and quote crime references CR083995/14 and CR083646/14.

Officers can also offer advice on property marking or setting up a boat watch scheme.