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Thieves target Chula Vista little leaguers

Posted at 7:28 AM, Dec 14, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-14 10:28:46-05

The Chula Vista American Little Leaguers are excited to hit the field again.

Sadly, they've already experienced a setback and the season hasn't even started.

“Our lawnmower was sitting right there. They stole that and lots of other equipment,” Leroy Donaldson said.

League president Leroy Donaldson says sometime between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning someone shut off their surveillance cameras, and took pitching machines, historic jerseys, and valuable landscaping equipment they use to keep their fields in good condition.

Tire tracks left behind show the path they took to sneak out of the back gate.

Volunteers says they believe the crooks tried to come back a second time.

Surveillance video from late Saturday night shows a man casing out their field hours after the theft and when the cameras were turned back on.

The incident has both players and parents on edge.

“Just scared to come here now, cause not only did they come one night they came a second night,” Nicole Colmenero said.

The team landscapes their own fields and with $20,000 worth of equipment gone, they'll have to find the money to pay someone to do it.

Despite their loss, the players say they'll still give it their all when the season starts.

“I love this field this will probably be my home for the rest of my life and I will always love this field,” Bret Leonhardt said.