CLEARLAKE ? South Shore Little League (SSLL) has yet again become the victim of theft and vandalism. League officials discovered a break-in to the announcer”s tower on Saturday.
More than $3,000 worth of equipment essential to providing a healthy sporting experience to hundreds of local children was taken and/or destroyed.
“The loss is surely devastating to the league, which fund-raises to pay for the equipment that the kids ages five to 16 to use,” SSLL President Jim Peters said. “It”s not like this crime affects just one family or organization. It affects the entire community because it”s the contributions of the community that make this league possible. It”s our youth who will suffer this tremendous loss.”
According to Peters, the burglar(s) broke into the second floor of the announcer”s tower were electronics and playing gear was stored. The criminal(s) took PA system including the microphone and headset and two speakers. “They also took the operating box for the scoreboard,” Peters said. “Without it, the league has no way of running the scoreboard.”
The list of stolen items goes on. Peters said that 25 bats were taken from the equipment bags; two buckets of used baseballs and softballs are missing; and miscellaneous mitts and catcher”s gloves are gone as well.
“We probably lost about $3,000 worth of equipment,” Peters said. “Three of the bats were returned when kids were found playing with them. They showed the authorities where they found the equipment and the police are following all leads.”
The Clearlake Police Department would like to remind the public that not only is theft a crime but it is also illegal to receive stolen property. According to Peters, serial numbers of some of the stolen equipment are on record.
Anyone with information that could lead to the return of any of the stolen equipment is urged to contact South Shore Little League President Jim Peters at 246-7293 or the Clearlake Police Department at 994-8251.
