The Wood County Special Olympics will still go on as authorities look into the thefts of hundreds of
dollars in sporting equipment used for the event.
The items were kept at the Bowling Green Community Center.
“We’re still working on who may have been there,” said Maj. Tony Hetrick of the Bowling Green Police
Division. He said the incident remains under investigation and there are no suspects as yet.
“The total value of the basketballs and the yoga mats is $700,” said Wood Lane Superintendent Melanie
Stretchbery of the stolen items. “It’s not a substantial amount of money, it’s just disappointment” that
people would steal the items, she said.
The thefts – including 10 yoga mats and 10 to 15 basketballs – were noticed on Feb. 19 and 20, and were
reported to police on Thursday. The items were taken from the storage closet in the Wood Lane gymnasium
at the Community Center on West Newton Road. Stretchbery indicated the yoga mats “were not brand new,
but the replacement on those would cost about $350. But the basketballs were brand, brand new.”
Whether or not the closet containing the items was locked at the time is uncertain. According to the
police report, private groups that rent the gym are given a master key which unlocks both the gym and
the storage closets. There were two renters between Feb. 12, the last time that Wood Lane staff used the
closet, and the discovery of the theft, but in the report a Community Center staff member indicated “the
Wood Lane staff continually leaves the closets unlocked.” Another narrative from a Wood Lane staff
member said the closets were “normally locked.”
The stolen basketballs were marked with “W.C.S.O.”, which stands for Wood County Special Olympics.
“All of the equipment used for the Special Olympics is purchased with donated funds,” said Stretchbery.
“People have given generously so that we could have that equipment.”
She said the items will be replaced, but “we’re not going to do a separate fundraiser for that.”
The Special Olympics will be held March 21 and 22, and include a basketball tournament.
“That’s really big for our community – not just for Wood Lane. Hundreds of families come into Bowling
Green for that event,” Stretchbery said.
“We appreciate the support of the community.”