Thieves who stole about $10,000 worth of equipment from a Geelong cricket club had “done their homework”, its new president says.
Cricket: England quick Jofra Archer is out of the Ashes, following the recurrence of a stress fracture in his elbow.
Frogs boss Sam Abley told the Geelong Advertiser that two mowers, a trailer and plenty of tools needed for wicket preparation were stolen from the Lloyd Reserve ground in Newtown.
And it’s not the first time either, with the ride-on mower once taken hundreds of metres and dumped in a ditch near the Barwon River, and other equipment stolen on numerous occasions.
It comes amid a great year for the club, with stage one of a pavilion upgrade underway at the ground – providing facilities for the Frogs and the Geelong Touch Football Association – and winning a Barwon Women’s Cricket Competition premiership in 2022-23.
It also won the GCA2 grand final over Geelong City last summer.
Two mowers were stolen from Murgheboluc Cricket Club. Picture: Murgheboluc CC.
Abley said there was damage also done to a metal gate at the front of the shed.
He said the nature of the theft seemed to indicate the thieves had “done a lot of research”, with a “decent-sized” vehicle or trailer required to remove the sheer volume of equipment.
“It seems like they’ve done their homework in the lead up to it. They came prepared,” he said.
“They might have come around before and figured out what they needed.”
Abley said King Lloyd Reserve was a beautiful location to play cricket but it was also isolated.
Murgheboluc Cricket Club players celebrate a wicket during the 2022-23 season. Picture: Murgheboluc Cricket Club.
“People can get into the area quite easily without being seen,” he said.
He said it was only fortunate it was the off-season, with the stolen tools essential to getting a wicket up and running.
“During the season you’d be scrambling trying to find replacements,” he said.
“It’s quite a bit of equipment in the end.”
Police, who inspected the site on Monday, are currently investigating the theft.
In an online post, the Geelong Cricket Association called on the community to “keep your ear to the ground” and let the club know of any potential leads.
The club can be contacted at [email protected]