Athletes grounded

By Alison Noonan
THIEVES have targeted the Cranbourne Little Athletics twice in two days, stealing almost $1000 worth of junior equipment.
The vital sporting gear, including discuses, shot puts, relay batons, starting blocks, small beanbags, skipping ropes, tennis balls and tape measures, was stolen from the club’s storage shed at Lawson Poole Reserve between 12.30am and 11am on Friday 27 January.
Committee member Kim Adamson said parents were suspicious after discovering the shed door had been unhinged on Thursday morning.
“The door was hanging off but it appeared that nothing had been stolen.
“Members fixed the door and that was that,” she said.
However she said parents returned to the club the following morning to find the garage door had been forced open and about $900 worth of equipment was missing.
“They hit us twice in two days. How could they do that to a kids club?” Ms Adamson said.
“We are there for the kids, to provide them with a healthy, funfilled sport and now their programs have been affected.
“Unfortunately if they don’t have equipment they can’t play.
“They are feeling really down. It’s very disappointing.”
Ms Adamson said the club would now be forced to dip into its end of year trophy money to replace the stolen items.
“We have money that we use to buy trophies for the kids at the end of the year so now we will have to use that.
“This was not a good welcome for the start of the year,” she said.
Casey mayor and club president Kevin Bradford said he was shocked by the callous theft but vowed not to let it get the club down.
“It is incredibly upsetting that people would lower themselves to this level to steal from a junior athletics club.
“We will still hold events but it will adversely affect the younger members of the club until the lost items can be replaced,” he said.
Police have appealed for witnesses to the theft or anyone who may be approached to buy cheap sporting equipment.
They can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Cranbourne Police on 5995 4681.