OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Last night I got to the hall to open up for practice and when I took one step inside I noticed our canteen door smashed open with things scattered on the floor. The till was open and empty and there was a mess leading into our playing arena. Not knowing whether the offenders were still inside we made an exit and rang the police. My worry at this stage was what condition the rest of our hall might be in. Tables could be upturned, broken, gouged. Who knows what mess would confront us when we entered the main hall.

We walked around the back and in the darkness we could see there was a door ajar. In case they were still inside I came up with a plan. My mate (Rob) who I was with is bigger than me but I am faster so I decided that if anyone came out, he would tackle them and i would run away as fast a I could, squeeling like a little girl.

The police came and with torches we went through the halls. There are 3 in total, separated by partitions and we are hall 3. We started at hall 1 then through hall 2 both of which are empty and when we came to our hall, an adjoining door had been smashed down for them to get in. Much to my relief all the tables were in tact with little evidence that someone had been in there.

In the end the hall suffered damage to a couple of doors and we had about $500 of things taken including bats for sale, a box of balls and various chocolate bars and soft drinks. The float from the till of $20 was also taken. All up we were in a way a bit lucky but still a nuisance.

I don't think we have insurance but can cover the loss however we will be seeking to get some contents insurance as if the tables were wrecked then that would have been another issue. 8 tables at $$$ would be quite expensive.

If anyone on the forum looks after that kind of thing for their club, might pay to check it out. Fire could be the other occasion where you might need insurance.

_________________
Donic Waldner Senso V1,FH Baracuda Big Slam 2.0mm ,BH Victas Triple Regular 2.0mm

That really sucks... those @#$%&*&^*% lowlifes!

Surprising they took TT gear though... either they thought they were expensive and could flog them off, or they were players...

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

I'd say neither. Being all there was there they probably just took it for the sake of it. Probably got down the road and thought 'what the hell do we need 10 bats and 100 balls for'.

Wouldn't be surprised if they are in a bin down the road.

_________________
Donic Waldner Senso V1,FH Baracuda Big Slam 2.0mm ,BH Victas Triple Regular 2.0mm

Sorry to hear that Cobalt. Sounds like it was kids and the chocolates would have been the big prize. They might have expected more cash in the til. As for the TT equipment....maybe it'll give Mt. Gambier some new TT players...lookout for any new players with shiny new gear

_________________
I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
Aussie Table Tennis Shop / Aussie Table Tennis Facebook Page / Equipment Review Index / Read my Reb Report Blog: click here.

Maybe the above technique should also be in the "How do we deal with lobbers?" thread.

I hope the theft and damage isn't too big a setback for your club. Good on you for dealing with the aftermath.

_________________
"Once you get past a certain threshold, everyone's problems are the same: fortifying your island and hiding the heat signature from your fusion reactor." –Doctor Impossible

At the venue we use that I help run, we never leave any money anywhere. We are fortunate that any balls, nets & club bats are left in a locked locker, and the tables are stored in locked storeroom. This is in a community hall run by the local council. Commiserations Cobalt.

_________________
Retriever (sometimes golden, but often leaden)
Moderator, Inverted Retriever Technique sub-forum - http://ooakforum.com/viewforum.php?f=74

Was only $20 in money lost. Everything else was locked up but a crowbar can sort that out.

All cleaned up now though and ready to go tonight for our Grand Finals.

_________________
Donic Waldner Senso V1,FH Baracuda Big Slam 2.0mm ,BH Victas Triple Regular 2.0mm

This reminds me of that time when I left my lab to go home and what do I see? A pair of low-lifes wheeling one of our two Donic Rollaways down the sidewalk. There was some sort of festival on campus (can't remember what, exactly - Homecoming or something of the sort), someone must've left the door to the storeroom open at the gym. I walk up to them and tell them I was calling the police (this was before cellphones so I had to head back to the building and use the payphone in the lounge). A few minutes later the campus police came by, I got in the car and we find the table, sitting there on the sidewalk, about a block from where I saw them the first time. I guess I'm glad they weren't vindictive or they would have pushed it out into the street or toppled it over into the gutter. The sports complex sent a truck and some workers to take it back. It was probably going to end up in some frat's rec room.

Iskandar