A South Australian dance troupe, the South Australian Precision Team, faces a significant setback just before their international debut at the Belfast International Tattoo, a prestigious event featuring military bands and performance groups from around the world. Thousands of dollars’ worth of their uniforms were stolen from the home of their director, Sheryl Bell, in Greenacres, Adelaide, after a courier delivered them.
The uniforms, comprising 35 personalised tracksuits valued at approximately $6,000, were taken shortly after being left outside. Bell reported that the courier delivered the package and placed it out of sight by the house; however, within an hour, the entire shipment had disappeared.
“The uniforms are uniquely ours and irreplaceable to anyone else. Our team has worked tirelessly to fundraise and pay their fees for this performance in Belfast,” Bell expressed, underlining the emotional and financial effort put into preparing for the event.
Reports suggest that the thieves accessed the property by navigating the fenceline, seemingly avoiding the motion-detecting CCTV cameras. They also made off with a rubbish bin, likely used to transport the stolen uniforms, which included jackets and pants for the whole team.
In light of this unfortunate incident, the troupe is urgently appealing for public help in recovering the stolen uniforms, while the police have been notified and are pursuing an investigation. With only a week remaining before their departure to the UK, time is of the essence. Regrettably, custom replacements for the uniforms will take a minimum of eight weeks to be remade. This leaves the team in a race against time to secure new attire for their performance.
The South Australian Precision Team remains optimistic, and despite the challenges ahead, they are determined to overcome this obstacle on their journey to the Belfast International Tattoo.