Thieves Capitalize on Pickleball Boom: In recent years, the popularity of pickleball has soared, but with its growth has emerged a troubling trend—an increase in thefts targeting this booming sport. Thieves have made off with thousands of dollars worth of pickleball paddles, allegedly reselling the stolen goods online, which has raised alarms among retailers.
Local Storeowner Reports Significant Losses
Troy Russell, the owner of Racquet Guys, a sporting goods store in Markham, recently reached out to Speakers Corner after experiencing multiple robberies at his establishment over the past few months.
“We’ve lost around $40,000 worth of paddles,” Russell stated, visibly frustrated by the situation. The store’s surveillance footage reveals a coordinated effort by the thieves, who swiftly swipe paddles from display walls and stuff them into bags.
Targeting High-Value Equipment
The price range of pickleball paddles varies widely, from under $100 to nearly $400. Russell noted that the thieves appear to be zeroing in on the more expensive models.
“They’re targeting some of the higher-priced ones,” he explained. “The Pickleball paddles are small enough to stuff into bags, making them an easy target for these people.”
A Widespread Problem
Conversations with fellow sporting goods store owners reveal that Russell’s experience is not isolated. “We have heard from several stores that are experiencing the same thing,” he shared. “Pickleball has become so popular and thieves have taken notice, there’s a huge market to resell these items.”
Reports from U.S. news outlets indicate similar crime waves have swept through cities across the border. Russell believes that thieves in Canada are adopting the same tactics.
Retailers Taking Action
While police reports have been filed in various districts, Russell and other storeowners have taken it upon themselves to investigate the situation. Their efforts quickly led them to a troubling discovery: “We’ve found a number of our paddles for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and we’re able to identify our own paddles because they actually still had our own price stickers on them,” he revealed.
Speakers Corner located one seller boasting an extensive inventory of paddles that Russell claims were stolen from his store and others in the Greater Toronto Area. When approached about her stock, the seller denied knowingly peddling stolen merchandise, insisting she purchased the paddles from another Facebook Marketplace seller.
“I buy them from others and resell them,” she claimed.
However, when pressed for the Marketplace profile where she acquired the paddles, she failed to provide it. Shortly after the encounter, the paddles were removed from her profile, raising further suspicions.
A Call for Caution
As the investigation unfolds, Russell is urging other retailers to be vigilant. “I would definitely advise other retailers to take precautions. Check your inventory. You may be a victim and not even know it, particularly if you’re selling pickleball paddles,” he cautioned, highlighting the urgent need for awareness amid this pickleball crime spree of 2024.
News in Brief ; Thieves Capitalize on Pickleball Boom
The growing popularity of pickleball has attracted thieves targeting sporting goods stores for paddles worth thousands. Troy Russell, owner of Racquet Guys in Markham, reported losses of $40,000 due to thefts, noting that criminals are reselling stolen items online. Similar crime sprees have been reported across Canada and the U.S., prompting Russell to warn other retailers to check their inventory and take precautions against potential theft.
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