Thieves steal copper from little league

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Thieves caused thousands of dollars worth of damage at a Virginia Beach little league field Saturday night.

The theft happened at the Plaza Little League clubhouse on Tantry Drive. League Vice President Steven Wicks said someone stripped the clubhouse air conditioning unit of its copper. League officials used the unit to cool the offices.

Wicks said he was frustrated because now the league must spend a couple thousand of dollars to replace the damaged unit instead of spending money on uniforms and equipment for the kids.

"We have over 300 kids out here aging anywhere from four to 18 , and anytime something is stolen out here, vandalized, or like that with the copper being stolen, it's taking away from the younger kids out here that we are trying so hard to provide a good future for," Wicks said.

Police and volunteers have stepped up patrols around the field to try and combat a recent increase in vandalism, but Wicks said efforts do not seem to be enough to stop the cruelty.