SUNBURY - At most ballparks, the most anyone has to worry about are stolen bases.
At Sunbury's softball complex on North Fourth Street, there are bigger issues. Someone tried to steal the bleachers.
Sunbury police are looking for information about anyone who may have been involved in stealing aluminum from the David Persing Sports Complex recently.
On Thursday, Mayor David Persing was at the baseball field getting ready for a fall league when a parent of one of the players approached him.
“He told me the bleacher was broken,” Persing said. “I went over to check it out and I noticed that someone was taking the bleachers apart piece by piece.”
Persing said he immediately called the police. “There were a few cross pieces and nuts and bolts missing,” he said. “It was like they were systematically taking it apart.”
Persing said he was surprised to see what happened and he will need to get a few of the parts replaced and re-welded.
“We will have to shut off that section for now but we will get this all fixed,” he said. “It was like they were using a hammer to get the bolts loose and then planning on taking the bleacher. It’s vandalism at its best.”
The Persing Complex is one of the spots where the city’s new surveillance cameras will be placed, he said. “We just met and we are ready to go with the cameras so this will at least tell the bad guys we are watching.”
Persing was unsure on when the theft occurred, but Sunbury Police Chief Steve Mazzeo said officers patrol the area often.
“We are actively going to be looking for whoever did this,” he said. “We will use every resource we can to catch them.”
Mazzeo said it is hard to tell when the incident occurred, but he will beef up patrol in the area.
“We will send more cars out there,” he said. “We already watch the area closely, but we will pay extra attention now.”
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