Hamilton police recover youth baseball team’s stolen equipment in time for opening day

Police show the stolen baseball equipment they recovered. (Hamilton Police Service)

A youth baseball association in Hamilton can go back to preparing for next month’s opening day after gear stolen from its facility has been recovered.

Hamilton police said a suspect broke into the team’s storage room and clubhouse on April 9 and took a significant quantity of equipment.

They include an expensive pitching machine, safety gear, bases, balls and bats.

Earlier this week, police executed a search warrant at a home in the city’s east end and found the stolen equipment.

“The items have since been returned to the baseball association in time for the upcoming season,” police said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the suspect, a 35-year-old man, was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000.