Man arrested in connection with Olympic training gear theft

A man has been arrested in connection with the theft of an Olympic athlete's training kit.

Sprinter Andrew McCabe's running spikes were taken while he trained at Tonbridge School in London Road, Tonbridge, Kent, on Friday, Kent Police said.

The 21-year-old, from Queensland, Australia, had left his bag containing the spikes on a bench beside the running track, the spokesman said.

A 28-year-old man from Tonbridge was arrested at 11.30pm yesterday after detectives investigating the theft appealed for help from the public.

The man was questioned and later released on police bail until Friday August 10.

Mike Tancred, Australian Olympics Team spokesman, said McCabe is due to compete in the 4x100m relay team on Friday.

The theft was reported to Kent Police at 4.47pm on Friday and police released the images of two people they wanted to speak to.

The athlete's bag also contained his national kit and other personal items such as a mobile phone, although a number of items have since been recovered, the police spokesman said.

The bag did not contain any official Olympic identification or accreditation passes, he added.

Anyone with any information should call Kent Police on 101, quoting incident reference 04-0428.

PA