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Police investigating theft of equipment

Tuesday, June 3, 2008
By MARIBETH WARD, Staff Writer

BAINBRIDGE -- Members of the Bainbridge Boys and Girls Baseball and Softball Youth League were informed on May 12 that they were victims of a crime.

A lawn mower, loaned to them for the summer without cost by Dixie Chopper Corp., was stolen from their facility.

League Treasurer Jeff Rudes told the BannerGraphic the theft ends up costing the league.

"The kids just got ripped off. Now we have to pay to have the fields done and that money comes right out of the league funds. It takes a big chunk from the kids and could jeopardize the program," said Rudes.

The lawn mower was a vital part of the group's maintenance equipment. Mowing the ball diamonds is an important obligation made by the league to the Park Board in order to use the fields.

The league is now paying approximately $40 each time the fields get mowed.

"We are working on a replacement but so far don't have a solution," added Rudes.

The Bainbridge Youth League is a non-profit organization that depends solely on individual and corporate donations as well as time volunteered by its members.

The loss of the mower is not only a large inconvenience and burden to the league but results in a substantial loss of money to the league.

A fundraising effort has raised an incentive for anyone with information about the theft to come forward.

Reward of $1,000 will be given to the person who can provide information leading to the arrest, trial and conviction of the person or persons who committed this crime.

Anyone with information about this crime should contact the leads line at (765) 658-1578.

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  • I hate to be a doubting Thomas,but I'm wondering why the story doesnt say where the Dixie Chopper was being stored.Those arent inexpensive machines,and I'd hate to think they were stored in a building on site at the diamonds. How often do we hear of kids breaking in and stealing/destroying things at diamonds?If a kid can break in to these places,surely an adult intent on stealing this equipment can.Surely this costly machine wasnt stored there. Who was responsible for storing it? Was it kept at their home? You'd need a trailor to haul it away wouldnt you? The individual reporting the theft or the law enforcement agency investigating or the Banner hasnt asked the basic questions or listed them in the article.Not sure which. Just seems fishy....

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 6:13 AM

  • On another note,rather than further increase the monetary losses caused by this theft,by paying $40 /a week to get it mowed,isnt there a lawnmower owning parent in the leagues that would volunteer for a few weeks? Maybe a couple parents to rotate? Thats how most small community diamonds are taken care of. If I were in that area , Id volunteer to help(that is if I had a mower) Good luck to the league and the kids. I hope this heartless thief is caught.

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 6:19 AM

  • Sorry to over-post here,but I just reread the article. Holy smokes this happened 23 or 24 days ago at the least? We are just being informed? Talk about a COLD TRAIL! Again,something fishy .......

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 6:22 AM

  • A reward for a Dixie Chopper Lawnmower? Keep that 1,000.00 and use it to pay for your mowing expenses. I agree, isn't there some parent or parents who would donate their time and mowers? Again, come one, a reward for a Dixie Chopper Lawn Mower. Go out and buy a John Deere!

    -- Posted by cty-govt-a-muck on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 7:24 AM

  • Wouldn't the lawnmower be insured?

    -- Posted by cty-govt-a-muck on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 7:26 AM

  • No Muck, not a reward for the mower, a reward for information leading to the arrest of the scum bucket who stole the mower. Why buy a Dixie Chopper over John Deere....It's the Horsepower Stupid!!!!

    -- Posted by horsepower on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 9:54 AM

  • The mower should be fully insured, along with liability and medical coverage. Not having this would be silly and irresponsible of the league itself for failing to cover it. In no way should the kids or parent have to be out one penny for this. A check should already have issued for a new mower and no one should be out anything.

    -- Posted by image77 on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 11:25 AM

  • Someone needs to wake up. There are only a handful of people that volunteer to do anything. And it's always the same people. Everyone else just complains and never lifts a hand. I know, I've been volunteering for 20 years and it's always the same people. More people are needed to help out. Come on people.

    -- Posted by ladycubs on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 11:30 AM

  • Maybe you should talk to the local police dept and ask why nobody has heard about the mower being stolen. And I have yet to see any parents volunteer to do anything. There are a select few that do help out and that is appreciated. But the bad thing is you can't even get them to work 30 minutes in the concession stand, let alone mow the lawn!!

    -- Posted by proudemt on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 1:40 PM

  • That is probably true that a small group volunteer,but, the point here is that Dixie Chopper, if it did loan the mower, would absolutely have insurance to cover this. Many questions need to be answered before there are more fundraisers or a increase in next year's fees to play ball.

    -- Posted by image77 on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 4:57 PM

  • Hey horsepower....calling people stupid isn't really nice. Didn't your mom ever teach you that. I personally like the colors green & yellow over silver & black. I'd sure notice the green & yellow over the dark colors. Horsepower vs. reliability? Go figure. haha

    -- Posted by cty-govt-a-muck on Wed, Jun 4, 2008, at 7:23 AM

  • Oh and for the record, it is insured!

    -- Posted by proudemt on Wed, Jun 4, 2008, at 8:35 AM

  • Dixie choppers are the best! Greencastle is the best place to live! How's that?

    -- Posted by wolrab on Wed, Jun 4, 2008, at 4:37 PM

  • How come we just now hear about this theft, but what about all the other crime going on in Bainbridge. The multiple 4 wheelers that have been stolen, or the windows shot out of homes, businesses, and vehicles by a BB gun. And that is just a little of it in the last couple months. Do we not pay a Town Marshal to patrol and investigate crime. What is being done?

    -- Posted by Hoosier67 on Mon, Jun 9, 2008, at 6:25 AM
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