A brazen break-in at the weekend has left a Hastings school without sports gear.
Riverslea Primary School students will now need to get creative during play time as their rugby and soccer balls, skipping ropes, cricket bats, trolleys, tennis balls and bats were all taken in the burglary.
A staff member discovered the theft at the Mayfair school early Monday morning.
Riverslea School principal Dion Crouch said it was "disheartening" to hear the news.
"It's sad that resources have been taken away from kids that love and need them."
"We are a very good sporting school, so to have our gear taken is very disappointing."
Police had no leads so far but Mr Crouch said he was hopeful the community would help locate the equipment.
"We teach our kids the value of Kaitiaki o Te Whenua or 'guardians of the land'." That instilled a sense of community pride among the students.
Police said the lock on the PE shed had been forced and everything in the shed was taken. All of the balls were marked with the school's name, in permanent marker.
Police are seeking information about any suspicious behaviour in the Beatty St area. The thieves may have used a vehicle to transport the gear.-Anyone with information about the burglary or about out-of-the-ordinary vehicle sightings in the area at the time should contact HB Police on 06 8310816 or information can be left anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.