Ho Chi Ho is part of the Hong Kong team which had expensive equipment stolen from Takapuna beach. Photo / Kenny Rodger
Greek Olympic gold medallist boardsailor Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, who lost $30,000 worth of equipment to thieves at the RS:X world championships in Takapuna last weekend, was not the only victim.
A day after his gear was stolen, burglars broke into the containers of at least two other teams, and
made away with other boardsailing-related items worth at least $15,000.
Custom-made wetsuits, gearbags, teal boxes and other personal surfing items were also stolen from the containers belonging to the Hong Kong and German boardsailing teams.
But unlike Mr Kaklamanakis, who lost irreplaceable items such as 14 years of notes, personal DVDs and his windsurfing board, the same items belonging to the two teams were not touched.
"In a way we are very lucky," Vicky Chan, a member of the Hong Kong team, said. "What was stolen were mainly personal items which can be replaced."
Arrangements had already been made for another team member to bring in the replacement gear from Hong Kong this Saturday.
Without the equipment, the team would not have been able to compete in their next contest, Sail Auckland, which starts on February 16.
Hong Kong coach Ben Cheung said that although the organisers and police had been extremely helpful, he felt security for future competitions should be beefed up.
"Maybe we can have a 24-hour security guard patrolling around the containers," Mr Cheung suggested.
But RS:X event director Grant Cunningham said security was already tight and that the damage was done "by a few mongrels who didn't care that their actions would leave a bitter taste in the mouth of teams visiting New Zealand".
Mr Cunningham said steps are being taken to tighten security in future events, but he was not prepared to say what they were because "it would only serve as an advantage for the potential burglars".
North Shore police constable Bradley Sanderson said the locks on the containers which were at a carpark next to the Takapuna Boating Club were forcibly cut.
"We are unable to say whether all the thefts are connected or linked," Mr Sanderson said.
Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.
