Surf life saving speakers stolen

‘‘The speakers are here to save lives, and this sort of thing puts lives in jeopardy.’’

Surf Life Saving Kariaotahi is the latest to be hit by a raft of loudspeaker thefts sweeping Franklin.

Head of Surf Life Saving Kariaotahi, Mike Lawrence, said crews were out training last weekend when they discovered three public announcement (PA) speakers had been stolen.

The thieves used a crowbar to break the gate and gain access to the speakers which were bolted at roof level.

They then forced the speakers from the bolts and cut the electri- cal wires to remove them.

Because of the isolated location at Karioitahi Beach, there is not a full-time presence at the club - especially during winter months.

The speakers had been installed for the last two seasons and each cost around $200.

Lawrence said he had heard about a new craze of loud speakers being used as music playing equipment.

However, the PA speakers at Kariaotahi served a vital role in keeping the community safe.

‘‘The speakers are here to save lives, and this sort of thing puts lives in jeopardy,’’ he said.

The PA speakers help to notify people when flags were being moved, or when conditions had become dangerous.

‘‘We make announcements as necessary, we certainly find them very useful.’’

He said insurance would not cover the stolen speakers and the club would have to find money to replace them.

Pukekohe Police Senior Sergeant, Stephen Richards, said there had been a number of speakers stolen in the last few weeks from different premises around the area.

‘‘This is very frustrating for the victims of this crime because some of them suffer quite a lot of damage from the act of pulling them off the wall and the cost of replacing them is high.’’

Richards said a recent craze involved young people attaching stolen speakers to wooden boards they then attached to their bicycles.

‘‘If you see people out and about with them on their bicycles, or even just sitting around the town square playing music through them, we would be interested in speaking to them.’’

Those with information can contact Pukekohe Police on 237 1700.

More on speaker theft, see P5