THE family of an 18-year-old motorcycle enthusiast who died in a collision on his moped have been left distraught after a memorial plaque and a model bike were taken from his grave.
The plaque bearing the word “Superbike” and the model of an Aprilla motorcycle still in its box were taken from the grave of Dean Tipping at Worfield Cemetery near Bridgnorth sometime between August 13 and Wednesday.
Mr Tipping’s family only discovered the items had gone missing on Thursday when they returned from a holiday in Minehead, and say they have no idea why anybody would have taken the tributes.
Mr Tipping died on May 20 last year after the GPR 50 moped he was riding collided with a Peugeot 106 on the A442 Cann Hall Road in Bridgnorth’s Low Town two days before. He died the same day a letter confirming his acceptance to the RAF arrived at his home.
His mum Pat said: “We go to Dean’s grave pretty much every day and we had just come back from a week’s holiday in Minehead. The plaque and model were missing, and we had a thorough search around the cemetery but couldn’t find them.
“Dean was really into bikes – he had the moped from when he was 16 and was always on scramblers and off-road bikes. He had always wanted an Aprilla motorbike but could never afford one, so we bought a model for him at Christmas and left it in it’s box on his grave. The box was obviously a bit weathered but the bike inside was still in perfect condition.
“I’ve got no idea why anyone would have taken the plaque or the bike, and I just want the stuff back. It was all bought for Dean, and the plaque has been there since the day of his funeral.
“If anybody wanted something from the grave all they had to do was ask me. I can’t think of any reason or motive for someone just taking them – you just don’t do things like that.”
Mr Tipping left parents Karl and Pat, brother Owen and sisters Abbie and Katie.
Anyone with information is urged to call Bridgnorth Police Station on 0300 333 3000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.