American Dragon Boat Team

[foreverLFC]

The Dragonboat community in singapore is quite a close group.  It is not difficult to find out who is the culprit soon.  Just look out for people who start selling 2nd hand paddles with the same brands in big qtys.

Another possibility is some team borrowed the paddles and forgot to return, or decided to return much later. 

Oh dear, this is indeed disturbing news.... 40 paddles!! gosh! 

Hi, Amdragon, maybe you guys can blast out a "Gentleman" email to those who had borrowed your paddles before and those who know the lock combination: to ask them to recall if they had borrowed and "forgot" to return... or saw anyone taking the paddles the last time they were there..etc.....
I'm not sure will this work, but hope it does scratch their conscience a bit and make them return the paddles automatically soon....
All the best to you guys.

[amdragon]

We've communicated very widely about this so other teams know what's going on and can make their own decisions about what, if anything, they want to do differently to protect their gear.

As far as locks / chains / wire cables - as my dad used to tell me: "They only keep the honest people honest."  If you think your stuff is safe and untouchable, think again.

A pair of bolt cutters, commonly used in the construction / engineering industries, can easily cut through any of them in about 2 seconds or less.  I was at a warehouse in Jurong the other day and saw them being used, they are not rare.  If someone wants your stuff, sitting all alone there at the Kallang shed at night, they are going to get it.  And then probably sell it in Penang or KL, which we assume to be the case with our paddles.

I do recommend, at least, making sure all your gear has permanent markings.

Anyway, the American Dragons are a solid team, this setback won't slow us down.  Again, we appreciate your concern and advice on the matter.  Please do let us know if you hear anything: captain@americandragons.sg

[PK]

i think you should highlight this to sdba, and advise them to beef up security measures at the shed. this incident should make them sit up and maybe consider about it. afterall the teams are paying sdba for its storage facilities.

from my point of view its not that hard actually, just install a few CCTVs. carting away 40 wooden paddles is NOT an easy task (its bloody heavy for me to carry even 10). i believed whoever who did that must have came with a vehicle to take away all those paddles. if they had CCTVs, they could have caught the car plate number.

looking at the optimistic side, at least those weren't carbon paddles. haha.

[Blade]

should spare sdba on this one because the shed has always been that way since eons ago right now something unpleasant has occurred and it goes into sdba's books. I am not Mr. Pro-SDBA but I guess we should all be rational 

[amdragon]

SDBA was one of the parties notified of this.  What, if anything, they choose to do is up to them.

Realistically speaking, I know that increased security will come with increased costs and increased hassle.  It's a double-edged sword.

We plan to take more action internally rather then rely on external parties (SDBA, Police, etc).

[pcgwee]

Gotta mark your paddles. An unmarked paddle is more liable to be stolen or "borrowed". Despite Singapore being a relatively safe place, we still need to take precautions and Kallang hasn't got the best record in keeping out thievery.

[one side order]

well, to american db team. what i can say is that at least you learn a lesson.
just buy a few more locks. or you might suspect is those cute little rats did it. buy a chunk of chesse and a few rat cage.
tell me if you caught them. i gotta bring them for a hot bathe. (: whoooo!