Deputies search for suspects after $12K in football equipment stolen from local high school

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an unusual break-in at a local high school just before football season.

Deputies said someone broke into the fieldhouse at West Caldwell High School and stole $12,000 worth of football equipment Sunday night. School officials told Channel 9′s Dave Faherty that the theft came weeks before the Warriors’ first game near Lenoir.

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Officials explained that the suspects stole nearly two dozen helmets, half of which were brand new. Only a handful are still left in the locker room.

The thieves also stole footballs and jerseys. However, coaches and players said that wouldn’t stop them from hitting the practice field Wednesday morning.

“We just got to keep working hard. Keep going forward, and if it’s the Lord’s will, we’ll get them back. And if it’s not, it’s not,” said student Joshton Blankenship. “We just got to leave it up to his hands.”

They said people in the community are already trying to help the kids impacted by all this.

“Our community is going to step up and help. That’s what I told them. And I said we’re going to face it; we’re going to rise,” said head coach Tony Pyland. “Nothing that happened in the last few days takes away from what we’ve been doing since May.”

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Wide receiver coach T.J. Maxwell is thankful for the community support and donations over the last 48 hours. The helmets, which are all white SpeedFlex, cost nearly $400 each.

“To take from kids, kids who are in the classroom and on the field to have fun. This is their fun, this is their enjoyment. And to have that taken away is heartbreaking,” Maxwell said.

Sheriff’s deputies believe the suspect damaged hinges on the doors of the fieldhouse to break inside. Deputies said they are canvassing the area for possible surveillance video.

Coach Pyland said their first scrimmage is Aug. 9, but a helmet rep hopes to have equipment there next week.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to reach out to the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office at 828-754-1518.

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