PLANNING for Leeming Spartan’s 100th year celebrations has been dealt a cruel blow after a burglary Saturday morning left the local cricket club with $20,000 worth of gear and equipment to replace.
Kit bags filled with pads, bats and helmets, a trailer with centre wicket equipment, multiple sets of stand-up shading, an audio system, generators and even stationery were among the haul stolen from the club’s storage shed at John Connell Reserve about 4am.
The club’s scoreboard and foosball table were recovered from the oval, although both were heavily damaged.
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The Leeming Strikers Soccer Club, which shares the storage facility, is currently taking stock but a number of balls were taken.
Leeming Spartan secretary Daniel Coombs said the club was gutted.
“It’s a kick right where it hurts,” he said.
“It’s our 100th year and we’ve been planning for more than 18 months.
“Now we have to replace all this gear and equipment.
“The timing is terrible.”
Not helping the club’s cause, Mr Coombs said an alarm had failed to fire, giving thieves time to look through every inch of the garage.
The club is insured but Mr Coombs said it could be difficult providing evidence it had much of the gear because it was donated by Spartan players over the last two decades.
He was unsure why the gear had been taken with most of it branded or marked with the club’s logo, making it easily identifiable and worth little if sold.
Mr Coombs was hopeful the gear would be recovered.
“Come and return it,” he requested of those behind the early morning raid.
“Drop it off, even anonymously.”
He said the club was looking at extra security, including cameras, to prevent a repeat.
Other clubs have extended an olive branch, offering donations, equipment and a fundraising match.
Forensics dusted for prints following the burglary, with Murdoch Police now awaiting the results.
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