"Savage" thugs ransacked a cricket club over the weekend, which has prompted a woman in the local community to launch a fundraiser to replace stolen items.
Members of Himley Cricket Club in Dudley were "beyond disappointed" when equipment - worth over £10,000 - was looted from their onsite storage facility on Sunday.
Banding together following the break in, Himley Cricket Club posted online, writing that the club "won't allow these acts of cowardice to affect the progression of the club or our spirit".
They added that the thugs took several pieces of equipment, including a heavy roller, which is vital for staff when they prepare the ground for wickets.
Around £10,000 worth of equipment was stolen, according to the club's chair
Himley Cricket Club/Facebook
In response to the theft, one of the coaches at the club, Joanne Buckley, launched an fundraiser via GoFundMe, explaining the storage site was "savagely" broken into, which damaged the doors and pieces of expensive of equipment were thieved.
The club issued a warning to other associations in the area, saying that they want to make other clubs aware of the threat of these to prevent another robbery from taking place.
Now, the association faces massive costs to mend the damaged and replace the stolen goods.
However, thanks to the community's generosity, the fundraiser is now almost £200 away from reaching its £1,500 target.
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The coach said that the impressive speed of raising donations "restores her faith in humanity".
Widely accessed by the community, the club is used by over 200 individuals, including 150 juniors, 50 seniors, and over 25 women and girls.
Buckley hoped that the fundraiser would raise enough money to install upgraded security in order to prevent another similar event from happening again.
Responding to the community's generosity so far, club chairman Matt Jeavons told the BBC: "We've had offers from local tradesmen and businesses to help out repairing the damage or donations of equipment, it's been great.
The club is seeking to install an improved security system to prevent a similar event from occurring again
Joanne Buckley/GoFundMe.com
"It's a local community club and a successful club that's grown and we rely on volunteers who put in the hours so when this kind of thing happens, it's a real kick in the teeth."
He added: "It's a hassle we don't need... through winter local clubs are maybe more vulnerable to thefts, but it's evidence of what the club means to the local community in the support they've show and with the fundraising."
Staffordshire Police confirmed that they received reports of the incident, with a spokesperson saying: "There was damage to the gates and doors and equipment was taken."
To donate, visit the online fundraiser here.
