Basketball hoop stolen from school, stolen from community: principal

NOTHING BUT BACKBOARD: Cobham School is appealing for information about the ring and net stolen from its top-of-the-line basketball hoop. School principal Gina Holmes said the thieves had not just stolen from the school but the community as well. A disappointed Kwade Matete lines up a shot alongside matua Kahurangi Peneha, Lafo Tatafu and Sepuloni Kitekeiaho. Picture by Liam Clayton

Cobham School students are devastated after returning from their holidays to find a new basketball hoop stolen right off the backboard.

The students were “gutted”, principal Gina Holmes said.

“Now we’ve got backboards with no hoops on them.”

The other hoop had been taken down after it was damaged.

“Why did they have to steal from us?” a student said to The Herald.

The hoops were not only used by kids at the school, which has a roll of 43.

“This isn’t just our school. It’s the community’s school,” Ms Holmes said.

“They’ve stolen from the community because it’s not just our kids that come in after school. High school kids come in and play hoops. It brings the community together.”

The “top-of-the-line” hoops were set up in October of last year. The previous hoop was a bucket with the bottom cut out, which was nailed to plywood.

Gisborne Basketball Association approached Basketball New Zealand and the rings were put up through the Hoops in Schools programme.

Ms Holmes is appealing for information about the stolen hoop.

“Someone will know somebody that’s come up with this really cool hoop.”

“They’ve climbed up there and unscrewed it and taken off with it.”

The school has CCTV but none of the cameras were pointing at the basketball court.

“Now I’m thinking we’re going to get another camera, which is just a kneejerk reaction because they’ve already taken the hoop.”

The school has been hit in the past by vandals who smashed windows and destroyed property.

Ms Holmes wants the hoops back so her students can get back to having fun on the court.

“If you know something, share that information — no questions asked.”

If you have any information, contact the school at 0800 KA RAWE or 0800-527-293.