Thieves hit clubs

By Kath Gannaway
SPORTS clubs in Warburton have been forced to spend their hard-earned cash upgrading security systems after being repeatedly targeted by thieves.
In the latest of a series or burglaries which is frustrating club members and police, the Warburton Millgrove Sporting Complex and the Warburton Golf Club were broken into in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 8 May.
It’s the fourth time this year that the clubs have been broken into and it’s coming at a cost to the club which their treasurers, Rob Morter at the sporting complex and Mike Dobson at the golf club, say is impacting on their double bottom – money and morale.
While the smash and grab thieves got away with just potato chips, chocolates and a small amount of alcohol from the sporting complex on this latest occasion, they left the golf club $2000 in the red after stealing 18 slabs of spirits.
Mr Dobson estimates the burglaries have cost the club $10,000 so far and they too are having to install more sophisticated and expensive security systems.
Both clubs operate as community facilities relying on a huge contribution by volunteers to keep them running.
The sporting complex is not only home to the Warburton Millgrove football and cricket clubs, but also provides a base for the local scouts, fishing club, Yarra Valley Community Health Service which runs programs for seniors, and during the bushfires over summer was called into play as an emergency relief centre.
“I estimate we’re losing between $500 and $1000 each time and it’s not just the cost of what is stolen that is leaving a sour taste in everyone’s mouths,” said Mr Morter.
“The cost of putting in these alarms is just another call on the community.”
“Rightly, or wrongly, we think it’s kids around 12 to 20 who are responsible,” he added reluctantly.
Golf club captain Ashley Hutton agreed the impact on what seems to be an on-going assault on the club was being felt at all levels.
“We have a lot of volunteers and committee here who work behind the bar to try to help out and save the club money.
“It’s pretty disappointing when these people just come in and you lose all that money straight off the top,” he said.
Warburton Police and the Shire of Yarra Ranges, which owns the sporting club facility, have also expressed their anger and disappointment.
“We’re only a small community and this sort of thing has quite a devastating impact financially on these clubs,” said Senior Constable Tony Pagels.
“It’s particularly so when you have young people who would be most advantaged by these clubs doing it.”
David Ashton, community relations officer for the shire, said the theft of hard-earned items and the damage causes were disheartening for everyone involved with the clubs.
Mr Dobson said there is reason to believe the thieves parked their car down near the public barbecue area on Dammons Road below the golf club about 4am on the Tuesday morning.
“A high-powered car was heard taking off at speed while the alarms were still ringing,” he said.
If anyone saw a vehicle parked there at that time, or noticed any other suspicious vehicles in the area, Warburton Police are keen to hear about it.
They can be contacted on 5966 2006.