A heinous break-in at the Great Lakes Sailing Club has seen the clubhouse stripped of thousands of dollars worth of equipment and prolonged what has already been a tough run for the small community-run club.
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Club president, Tim Haffner, believed the break-in occurred some time between Friday, July 31 and Thursday, August 13, when he discovered it.
Mr Haffner said communication radios, first aid kits, safety gear, furniture, a defibrillator and a computer containing much of the club's archival information had all been stolen.
A fire had also been lit on the clubhouse floor.
"Ninety per cent of the stuff was just gear for sailing," he said.
"The thieving was pure(ly) senseless."
Making matters worse was the fact the club did not have contents insurance, meaning none of the equipment was covered.
Mr Haffner said the club had already endured a number of challenges in recent years and this latest setback was a further blow.
"Between that storm in December 2018 and then we had bushfires and then we lost out with flooding and now COVID," he said.
"It's just been one thing after another."
However, Mr Haffner was adamant the club would bounce back and he thanked the community for its support.
"The club is really appreciative of the support from the public," he said.
"We'll just work our way through it (replacing the equipment) on a priority basis."
Mr Haffner said a police investigation into the break-in was ongoing.
Anyone with information relating to the crime is urged to contact Forster Police Station on (02) 6555 1299 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
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