The Riversdale community has been left outraged after the theft of their surf club’s quadbike.
The red Honda 400 quad was stolen from the Riversdale Beach Surf Lifesaving Club on Wednesday night.
With just six weeks until the surf lifesaving season begins, club chairman Dave Rose said he was extremely upset about the loss.
“It’s just so bloody sad,” he said.
“There’s a lot of anger in the community because we are a community facility.
“It’s a pretty low life thing to do – to steal from a surf lifesaving club.”
The vehicle had been in a locked container which was storing the club’s rescue gear and equipment while the new clubrooms are under construction.
It appeared no other items were stolen.
Mr Rose said with the new facility being built there were not enough funds available to replace the vehicle.
“It’s been three years of hard grind to get us to this stage, so to now have to turn around and try and find money to replace the quad . . . it’s incredibly frustrating.”
While the quadbike was insured, it would only be to the tune of the vehicle’s market value which would result “in a considerable shortfall”, Mr Rose said.
“With the season starting in just over 6 weeks it gives us no time to put together grant applications for funding.”
He said builders arrived at the site on Thursday morning to discover the container had been broken into.
A camera, installed by the residents association last year, showed footage of the vehicle coming onto the beach.
“Then it captured the alleged car going out with the quadbike following it on Wednesday night.”
Mr Rose said the vehicle’s number plate was clearly visible in the CCTV footage.
“There is some irony here. If the offenders were from Wairarapa then there is a good chance they have swum at Riversdale beach, under the very protection of who they stole from.”
The theft is being investigated by police.
By Hayley Gastmeier
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