Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service is “absolutely gutted” after tyres and rims worth about $1500 were stolen off two of their trailers.

Club president Russell Reardon said the wheels and rims were stolen in the early hours of Saturday morning from the club’s temporary base on Marine Parade. The theft was reported to the police upon discovery at 7.30am that day.

Paddleboard trailers owned by the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service were stripped of wheels and tyre rims in the early hours of July 18. Photo / Russell Reardon

Reardon said the trailers were used to transport paddleboards to rescues, events or training, and he believed the rims and tyres would cost about $1500 to replace.

“Training is a key part of keeping our lifeguards rescue-ready. Should we need paddleboard paddlers further down the beach, then they will not be able to get there in a hurry without the trailer.”

Police are investigating the theft of wheels and tyre rims from trailers owned by Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service on July 18. Photo / Russell Reardon

“We’re absolutely gutted. It’s hard enough to get the money to purchase the trailers without having to get them repaired due to wheels getting stolen.”

He said the police were still investigating the theft.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam confirmed the theft was reported to the police on July 18.

Varnam said that this matter was still an “active” investigation.

“Police are following lines of inquiry, including reviewing CCTV footage from the area. We would like to hear from anyone with information that would assist our investigation.”

Varnam urged anyone with information about the theft to contact the police by calling 105, quoting reference file number 260718/2527.

He said information could also be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.