Lights out on BMX track | Bay of Plenty Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Bay of Plenty

A small gain for an opportunistic thief has translated to a huge loss for Tauranga BMX Club with the floodlights now permanently out on the track.

Club representative Maree McGarva said a fellow member was at the Sulphur Point track last week and noticed one of the cables to the outdoor lights had been cut, high up the pole. Since then members have discovered every one of the cables has been cut and the copper wiring, inside the plastic tubing pulled out, cutting power to the lights.

Mrs McGarva described the crime as "brainless" saying members suspected the copper had been sold to a scrap metal dealer, for  much less than the cost of the vandalism to the community track.

The blow comes as the first dirt arrives at the new BMX track, on the site of the old Cambridge Rd tip, where the lights were destined to be re-installed. Mrs McGarva said the club did not have the funding to get them fixed.

 Donations can be made by contacting Maree McGarva on 027 386 1891