KEY POINTS:
About $40,000 worth of fencing equipment has been stolen from the New Zealand Academy of Fencing, crushing junior members' dreams of competing in their first tournament.
The burglars broke into the club's base at the old Otahuhu Recreation Centre on Piki Thompson Way on Monday night.
They entered the centre through windows that had been boarded up after youths smashed them about six months ago.
Chief fencing instructor Barry More said about 25 swords, clothing and masks were stolen. One woman, a university student, lost $6000 worth of equipment.
"They're no use to anybody except for a fencer and the fencing community is so small in New Zealand that I could probably tell you the name of everybody that's involved. Someone's going to find out about it.
"You'd have to be a complete moron to realise you can't sell this stuff. Just give it back. It's no use."
The swords were not sharp enough to be a danger to the public, Mr More said.
Aluminium flooring used for the "electric" style of fencing was also pulled up and taken which Mr More suspected would be sold as scrap metal. He had alerted the Scrap Metal Recycling Association of New Zealand.
Mr More said the burglars would have needed a large vehicle to transport all the equipment.
Many of the school-aged fencers were looking forward to their first tournament using equipment borrowed from the club.
"There's only enough to go round, some people are going to miss out now, they'll be gutted," Mr More said.
The Auckland City Council, which owns the building, had not installed alarms because the centre's future was uncertain now that there was a new one in Mason Ave.
Mr More said the lack of alarms meant insurance premiums were too high for the academy.
