A youth rugby team in Portland, Ore., is asking for the public’s help in finding thieves who stole $15,000 worth of equipment and the team’s trailer.
According to KGW8, the Eastside Tsunami youth rugby team reported the trailer stolen last week. It contained tackle pads, uniforms and other training gear, including hurdles, hit shields, marking cones and mats. Despite being secured with multiple hitch and wheel locks, thieves still managed to take the trailer.
The Tsunami are a non-profit organization that relies on community support, so assistant coach Dave Hardy said the “loss of $15,000 is a significant setback.”
“Definitely shocked. Confused, too,” said senior athlete Malloy Hardy. “I wasn’t expecting someone to steal a trailer full of rugby gear.”
“All we really want is our gear back,” said another team member. “Please give it back. We’re very forgiving. We’re not going to press charges or anything if you just return it with everything inside.”
While the police investigate the stolen equipment, the team has launched a GoFundMe in an effort to replace the uniforms and training equipment. That GoFundMe has already raised $7,035 as of Thursday, April 30. The team’s goal is to raise $8,000.
“The whole club and community would really appreciate donations to kind of kickstart us back up,” Hardy said. “It’s just such an awesome community, it certainly was not expected, but I was not surprised with how awesome people are, inside the rugby community and outside the rugby community, just because people know that these things are unfortunate, but it’s just great to be able to see your community step up.”
