$20,000 theft from ski shop

Press, 8 July 1986, Page 3

$20,000 theft from ski shop

Burglars carefully avoided alarms in a Darfield ski shop before taking clothing valued about $20,000 at the week-end.

One of the owners of Gnomes Ski Shop, Mr lan Rhodes, said that the burglars obviously knew the lay-out of the shop. They took jackets, jerseys, and children’s stretch pants, but left skis, bindings, poles, and other sports equipment.

Mr Rhodes said that the shop, which is on Darfield’s main street, was entered between about 8.30 p.m. on Saturday and 7.15 a.m. on Sunday.

The burglars broke a window to gain entry. Mr Rhodes believes that two cars or a van would have been needed to remove the 119 jackets taken. Some of the jackets were valued up to $5OO each.

They were insured, but would be difficult to replace this time of year as they had to be ordered well in advance. The stolen items were scarce, he said. “They were very selective in what they took.” The burglars had taken a pack which they had loaded with ammunition,

but that was discarded along the road, possibly because it was too heavy.

Mr Rhodes said that security at the shop would be improved. More alarms would be installed and bars would be put on the windows.

This is the second year in succession that the ski shop has had bad luck. The shop was gutted by fire last year and the owners, Mr Rhodes and his wife, Mrs Jan Rhodes, had to rebuild. However, Mr Rhodes said yesterday that they were determined to stay in business.