Spike in thefts at Metro Football Club’s new clubrooms at North Chigwell Soccer Hub

With construction underway for facilities that have been long fought for, a soccer hub has been targeted by a series of thefts. Here’s the latest.

Metro Football Club president Simon Land. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Police are calling for witnesses after thieves struck the construction site of Metro Football Club’s new clubrooms at the North Chigwell Soccer Hub overnight on Thursday.

Police said sometime late on Thursday or early on Friday a large quantity of electrical cable was stolen from the construction site on Allunga Rd Chigwell.

The cable is described as 25mm mains electrical cable and a separate earth wire. The diameter and length of cable would have taken significant effort to remove and load to take away and police are hopeful that the public may have witnessed the crime or how the cable was transported from the site.

Glenorchy Division Inspector Jason Klug said police were reviewing CCTV footage as part of the investigation.

“It’s disappointing that thieves have targeted a community facility for local families and sporting organisations,” he said.

“Police have also since been advised of two previous stealings at the site that were not previously reported to police.

“We are following all avenues of inquiry in relation to these matters.”

The hub was funded by the federal government, who have earmarked $12.8m for the full project in 2019.

Independent member for Clark Andrew Wilkie said it was disappointing to hear a number of thefts from the building site that was costing the construction company thousands of dollars.

Federal member for Clark Andrew Wilkie.

“This will be a great community asset that will bring joy to a lot of people, but sadly these incidents are upsetting for the community and delaying their access to a sorely needed recreation facility,” Mr Wilkie said.

“They’re also a cost that the building industry can’t afford if it’s to survive and continue to employ people.”

Kelly Civil Contracting’s Nathan Gray said the thefts were having a significant impact on the community.

“The project is long-awaited and represents a community initiative that promises to give back to the generations,” he said.

“It’s for the local community of southern Tasmania and the growth of soccer in our state.”

Originally published as Spike in thefts at Metro Football Club’s new clubrooms at North Chigwell Soccer Hub