War Boxing Academy in Warminster revealed on Monday morning, October 12, that a significant amount of its kit had been stolen, including weight plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, Olympic bars and tools.
The theft has left those behind the club angry and upset, with equipment relied upon by members and boxers preparing for competitions now gone.
And the academy says the consequences will be felt far beyond replacing a few weights.
“It’s difficult to put into words how frustrating and upsetting this is,” the club said.
“We’re not just a gym. We’re a community.
“We’re a place where young people build confidence, where boxers work towards their dreams, where people come to improve their physical and mental wellbeing and where we teach discipline, respect and hard work.”
The academy has poured its time, money and energy into creating something positive for Warminster.
Now money which could have been spent developing its boxers, supporting competitions and improving facilities will instead have to go towards replacing stolen equipment.
Training sessions and plans are also set to be affected as the club works out how to recover from the setback.
The academy said: “What makes it particularly upsetting is knowing that someone has deliberately taken something that so many people have worked hard to build.
“We put our time, money and energy into making War Boxing Academy something positive for Warminster, and this is a real setback.”
For the academy, the equipment represented far more than its monetary value.
It was being used by members to become stronger and by boxers working towards competition, while the gym itself provides what the club describes as a safe and positive place for people to train.
“This isn’t just stolen equipment,” the academy said. “It’s a blow to a community that works hard to give people something positive.”
But the club has insisted those responsible have not broken its spirit.
They said: “However we won’t let this define us. We’ll adapt, we’ll keep supporting our boxers and we’ll do everything we can to get the gym back to where it needs to be.”
Anyone with information about the break-in is being urged to contact the academy privately.
The club also wants to hear from anyone offered weight plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, Olympic bars or gym tools in suspicious circumstances.
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Ending its appeal with a defiant message, it said: “They may have taken our equipment, but they haven’t taken our determination, our spirit or our community.
“We’ll keep fighting. That’s what we do.”
The theft has sparked an outpouring of support from the community, with people offering to donate towards replacing the stolen equipment.
Katie Ryder suggested setting up a fundraiser, saying she was sure the community would help replace the kit.
Other clubs also rallied around the academy, with PMA Kickboxing Warminster and CrossFit Warminster promising to watch for equipment being sold locally.
Wiltshire Police has been approached for comment on the ongoing incident.