The insurance company for an outdoor education centre in Taranaki is on the hook for more than $20,000 from equipment reportedly stolen from the organisation.
The stolen items include wetsuits, buoyancy vests, rescue gear, packs, sleeping bags, rechargeable batteries and even a power boat motor from the Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Education Centre (Topec), Stuff reported. These items were kept in an equipment kit shed on the site at Hydro Rd, Burgess Park – which at the time of break-in, sometime overnight on May 16, was reportedly empty.
“It’s the stuff that’s pretty vital to us operating,” Topec director Grover Worsfold told the publication.
Worsfold said the centre had to replace stolen items straight away as they couldn’t continue without them. However, she said they have so far been unable to lodge an insurance claim as they are finding that more items are missing as the week goes on.
Stuff reported police were investigating.
“At this stage there are no reports of property being recovered and police currently don’t have any suspects,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
