Clarksville, TN – The Woodlawn Little League was burglarized and $15,000 worth of equipment was stolen. A building at Woodlawn Park, where the equipment was stored, was discovered burglarized by two employees of the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department when they arrived at Woodlawn Park for ground maintenance on Friday.
Deputies and Investigators with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to the scene.
The garage door on the shed had a large pry mark on the bottom and was raised about half way up. The shed is located to the rear of the property.
Two John Deere Gators were stolen. A 4300 Compact valued at $12,250 and 430 Loader valued at $3,000. Nicole Matthews, Woodlawn Little League President, did not notice any additional equipment or supplies missing.
Investigators believe the burglary happened sometime between late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Track lines indicate the Gators were driven out of the building, across a field, and loaded onto a trailer parked in a driveway by the upper entrance of the park.
The Woodlawn Little League was started in 1997 by parents who believed in the program so strongly some placed second mortgages on their homes for money to start the league. Now over 300 children participate in 23 teams within the organization. Woodlawn Little League’s Junior League Girls Softball (13-14 year old) are the current State Champions.
“It’s a shame someone would steal from children and parents who have worked so hard to purchase all the equipment we own,” said Coach and League Board Member Ricky Robertson.
“Stealing property that belongs to someone else is bad enough, but when you steal from an organization that supports children in the community, you have gone too far. We will bring in these heartless thieves, and when we do, I will do everything to make sure they get the book thrown at them,” said Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson.
MCSO is asking the community for help with information regarding this burglary. Anyone with information pertaining to this crime can contact the MCSO at 931.648.0611 or The CrimeStoppers TIPS Hotline at 931.645.TIPS (8477).
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