Close to $5000 worth of paddling equipment, including a canoe trolley, was stolen from the club’s Corlette storage area in October 2015. 

Six months later, and just weeks after replacing the stolen items, they have again been stolen.

“Club members have been looking on eBay and Gumtree for the gear, but nothing is coming up,” outrigger canoe club committee member Carol Compton said. “Even if they [thieves] just left the gear behind and took the box, that would have been better.”

A $600 container, filled with more than $2500 worth of equipment, plus a $1500 canoe trolley was stolen in October. 

Hoping it was a once off, the club committee replaced the equipment.

But on May 7, members arrived at the Corlette site to find the aluminium storage box – which had been bolted into the ground – was gone and with it another $5000 worth of gear. 

“We ladies showed up at the Corlette site for our Thursday paddling session only to find that our storage box and our canoe trolley with new wide wheels had disappeared,” the club’s treasurer, Jean Brown, said of the October theft.

“It took the committee some six months to decide that it was probably a one off and that we would risk replacing the paddles, safety gear, waiver book. Club members concreted the new storage box into place with stainless steel bolts and a strong padlock.

“On May 7 we arrived at the beach only to find that our storage box and equipment had once again been stolen. It had been in position about eight weeks.”

It is believed the thief broke into the large aluminium storage box, removed the items, unfastened the bolts, pulled the box off its fixture, replaced the equipment inside and took the entire thing.

Ms Brown said members were “puzzled to understand” what a thief could use the equipment for.

Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to phone Raymond Terrace Police Station on 4983 7599 or Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.