Thieves struck the San Marcos Girls Softball League in San Diego this week, stealing $3,000 worth of equipment and products from the snack bar.
According to ABC 10 News, the San Marcos team is only the latest in a series of break-ins occurring across San Diego County. In every instance, thieves have broken into storage facilities or snack bars to rob the facilities.
At San Marcos’ facility, thieves “kicked a roll-up window so hard that the bracket bent open, before the window was forced open.” Images shared by ABC 10 News showed bent brackets, broken locks, dented security covers and broken doors.
At the Mira Mesa Girls Softball League in early June, thieves stole generators and canopies, and at Rancho Bernardo Community Park, ball machines, netting and generators were also stolen this month. For some of the leagues, these thefts have been ongoing for months.
“Everything comes from the community, so you’re stealing from the community,” league president Nora Haripotepornkul told ABC 10 News, emphasizing that these thefts hurt the youth athletes the most.
That is especially true for the Mira Mesa League, where thefts totaled $4,500. According to the league’s vice president, Bri Page, in order to budget for the thefts, her organization may need to raise registration fees, making the sport less accessible for families.
“It feels very personal to me,” Page said.
San Marcos, Mira Mesa and Rancho Bernardo have all added security measures to their facilities, like extra locks to deter would-be thieves. While the police have yet to confirm the cases are linked, Ashley Gragido, a league board member, said it cannot be a coincidence.
“It's all-star season,” Gragido said. “If it's connected, someone is following social media, aware of leagues, knowing tournaments are happening and snack bars are stocked.”
