Volunteer: Theodore Athletic Association Park broken into

THEODORE, Ala. (WALA) - The president of the Theodore Athletic Association , Bryan McCraney, said he feels relieved after finding equipment that had been stolen from the park’s shed.

McCraney said around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon, surveillance video shows three suspects breaking into the park’s equipment shed and stealing a four-wheel cart called “the gator’.

 “They (three people) came in, threw stuff at a video camera, knocked the video camera down, snatched the door open and they stole the gator,” said McCraney.

“The gator” is used to empty trash, put dirt on the fields and move injured players.

McCraney said the cart cost $5,000; money he would rather use on the kids who play at the park, than on stolen equipment.

“Any kind of destruction that happens, it takes money directly away from the kids . With the $5,000 gone, that’s 50 to 60 kids worth of equipment,” he said.

McCraney said coming up with extra spending money isn’t easy. The Theodore Athletic Association Park is funded through donations and run by a board of volunteers.

And it’s not the only time this park has been vandalized. Less than two years ago, the press box was burnt down.

“That was $10,000 of arson or vandalism; a $10,000 mistake for us, and that’s been rebuilt with volunteers,” said McCraney.

He hopes the surveillance video helps catch the vandals and put an end to the destruction.

The first football game at the park is scheduled for Saturday morning at 8:30.

If you have any information about the crime, call Mobile police.