POLICE are hunting thieves who stole a RNLI sign.

They were caught on CCTV parked near the lifeboat station in Southend as they tried a number of times to steal the special aluminium sign, which gives safety warnings to walkers about oncoming boats.

One bungling wannabe thief is seen trying to steal the sign by jumping up the sign’s pole before sliding down, before another takes over and removes it.

Onlooking members of the gang, who parked up in three vehicles, then bundle into their vehicles and race from the scene.

Their details have been passed to police and a CCTV film has been shared online.

Helmsman Tony Bonham, who has volunteered at Southend’s RNLI for 29 years and installed the sign, said: “I came in and immediately I noticed something was missing.

“Then I saw the sign was gone and looked on the CCTV to see what had happened.

“I felt sick seeing these boy racers in the car park doing that. We do so much to keep things up and running. We don’t just go out on shouts, we spend the days doing maintenance and improving things.

“There’s no need for this vandalism, especially at a life boat station when we are there to save lives.

“The signs cost about £100 each plus the brackets and cost of installing them.

“That is money donated by the public. We have the busiest coastguard lifeboat station in the county and we are just trying to keep the area safe for the public.”

The film shows three cars, believed to be a Honda Civic, an Audi or Volkswagen Golf and a white Transit van with black alloys.

Mr Bonham is hoping by sharing the film of the distinctive vehicles people will recognise the car and inform the police of its registration.

The film has already had more than 11,000 views on Facebook.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police are investigating the theft of a sign outside premises on Eastern Esplanade in Southend. It happened at 12.45am on Sunday, January 18.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101.”