Third break-in is too much for club

Louisa Rust

While anyone who has experienced a burglary will know of the stress and frustration involved in reporting the offence and replacing lost or damaged property, imagine having to go through the experience three times.

That is the situation the members of the Port Kembla Junior Rugby League Club currently face, after the club was broken into for the third time in two months last Friday.

In each instance a thief or thieves broke into the premises by removing the tin from the club’s roof and escaped by breaking the internal locks on the club’s shutters.

Items stolen include money, canteen food, two lawn mowers, lawn mower petrol, a gas bottle and a compressor.

Club treasurer Louie Gaudiosi said he was becoming exasperated by the criminals, who somehow cut the tin on the roof during their third burglary despite all the bolts having been ground down to prevent another break in.

“This means a lot to the club at the present time,” he said.

“We are only charging kids the bare minimum, which is insurance and registration.

“It’s not a wealthy area,” Mr Gaudiosi said.

“And we are trying to raise money from the canteen for the kids’ presentation at the end of the season.

“We have about 120 to 140 kids here, and we’ve been going for a long time – we can’t just get them to go somewhere else.”

Mr Gaudiosi said the goods stolen during the burglaries had been worth around $2500, while the repair bill for damage sustained during the break-ins had reached around $1000.

Port Kembla Junior Rugby League Club is located on Noel Mulligan Oval in Kemblawarra, opposite Westfield Warrawong on Northcliffe Drive.

Police are appealing to anyone with information on the thefts to contact Warilla Police station on 4295 2699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

To donate to Port Kembla Junior Rugby League Club, or help out with fundraising activities, call Maria on 0403 440 231 or Gary on 0432 631 368.