Thieves steal thousands in equipment from Bear Creek High School tennis team
Bear Creek players spent weeks fundraising for equipment that disappeared just before their first preseason match
STOCKTON, Calif. —
A Stockton high school tennis team is trying to push forward after a weekend theft left the program without thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment just as its season was getting underway.
Bear Creek High School’s tennis program discovered the break-in Monday when players arrived for practice and found their equipment shed open. Head coach Gayle Litz said rackets, uniforms, shoes and a Slinger Bag ball machine were among the items stolen, many of them purchased with money the players helped raise themselves.
“Coach, coach, the shed is open,” Litz recalled a student telling her. “So we go in and we just start looking and stuff is gone.”
Litz estimated replacing the stolen equipment could cost between $2,000 and $3,000.
The loss is particularly difficult for a program that relies on fundraising. Litz said players typically spend about a month raising money, which helps pay for equipment and uniforms, including for students who otherwise may not be able to afford them.
“That really hurt. Really, really hurt,” Litz said.
Litz has coached the program for 11 years and recalled starting with about $100 and no rackets or tennis balls.
Despite the theft, the Bruins took the court Tuesday for their first preseason match against St. Mary’s.
Stockton police said the theft happened sometime over the weekend and remains under investigation.
The Bear Creek tennis program has launched a fundraiser to help replace the stolen equipment.
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