Pickleball business robbed before it even opens
Last Edited
Dec 12 2024
Category
News
The pickleball community has a lot to be proud of as the year comes to a close: records set for participation; an impending feature on the silver screen.
But if there's one negative for pickleball this year, it's rampant, targeted crime.
Over the weekend, the latest victim was a new hotspot-in-progress on Ohio’s Marblehead Peninsula.
Known as The BackYard, this 20,000-square-foot facility is set to open early next year, boasting six courts and amenities to attract players near and far.
But burglars struck on Saturday, stealing tens of thousands of dollars in tools and pickleball equipment. Local police confirmed that a safe and power tools were missing, with evidence collected for DNA analysis.
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The Backyard's owners aren’t letting this stop them.
In a statement, they said, “Although this was certainly a gut punch, we will focus on the wonderful opportunity we have ahead and continue the work to bring this unique venue to the peninsula.”
A year of pickleball-themed crime
This is far from the first time a pickleball or adjacent business was targeted by theft this year.
A wave of pickleball-related thefts has been reported across the U.S.—everything from vandalized courts in New York to stolen paddles in Colorado and Vegas.
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