'Stealing from us is crap'

IN LIMBO: The Rawene Sailing Trust's boatshed, where work has stopped thanks to theives.

Dave Williams wasn't pulling his punches after thieves helped themselves to sheets of iron that were to have been used in the building of the Rawene Sailing Trust's boatshed at Rawene.

"Stealing from us is crap," he said.

"The iron was not insured, so our club is stuffed unless we can get it back. We have no spare money; we are not a rich east coast sailing club but a poor Hokianga-based, purely volunteer group. (The trust fundraised to build the shed, on the Rawene Domain, to house sailing boats and a rescue boat for youth sailing programmes).

"Even if we could afford to replace it, stealing from us is crap," he said.

The haul comprised close to 100 sheets of zinc (grey) seven-rib Zincalume iron, 36 sheets of 3.2 metres, 44 of four metres and 16 of various lengths.

A trailer was also stolen from Rawene over the long weekend, although it was not known if there was any connection. Mr Williams said the iron would have weighed two or three tonnes, however, so a truck or a "reasonable" trailer would have been needed to cart it away.

He was unable to specify its value, but suspected it would be around $30,000.

"Someone must have seen this stuff go somewhere, so please help us find it and get it back to us on-site," he added.

Any information should go to the nearest police station.