STONEHAM – Stoneham authorities say a “significant amount” of athletic equipment was stolen during an alumni event Tuesday night.

The stolen items include football helmets valued at $400 each, field hockey and football jerseys, and practice shorts. In total, equipment from ten fall sports teams was stolen.

“We estimate the value of everything that's missing is between $7,000 and $8,000,” said David Ljungberg, superintendent of Stoneham School. “This affects 10 of our sports teams that will be playing in the fall, and we need to get our equipment back.”

Theft at alumni event

According to police, the theft occurred during an “Alumni Walkthrough” event at the old Stoneham High School, which closed earlier this month to make way for a new high school.

“It was a fun last hurrah for our school building and a way for people to say goodbye,” Ljungberg said.

Fewer than 200 people had confirmed, but about twice as many showed up. Somehow, a group helped themselves to some much-needed sports equipment.

Ljungberg said the training room was locked from the main hallway and the items were bagged and labelled. However, there was an unlocked back door that people apparently used to get in via a detour to the classrooms.

“Urgently request your help”

Previously, the Stoneham athletics department posted the same day that it was “urgently requesting your help” to get the equipment back and that the sports season could be in jeopardy.

“Our current athletes need this stuff and cannot compete without it. I ask anyone who has taken any to please return it ASAP,” wrote the account on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We cannot afford new uniforms. This could ruin our upcoming seasons.”

Ljungberg said the school system is working closely with police to return the stolen equipment to the teams in time for the fall season. Anyone with information is asked to contact Stoneham police at 781-438-1215.

“We cannot allow something like this to happen again,” said Ljungberg.