A copper theft at Kaminski Park left Highlands Little League fields without lights, forcing game cancellations.
HOUSTON — A copper theft at Kaminski Park in Highlands left baseball fields without lights and forced game cancellations as the community stepped up to help.
There was no baseball under the lights at Kaminski Park after someone cut copper wiring connected to the field lights, leaving the Highlands Little League fields in the dark.
Austin Moore, who has served as Highlands Little League president for eight years, said he got a call shortly after Mother’s Day that someone had broken into the property and stolen the copper wiring tied to the lights.
The damage forced the league to cancel night games.
Moore, who grew up playing on the same fields, said seeing the damage was heartbreaking.
“When you see something like this, your heart just kind of sinks, your stomach just drops,” Moore said.
He said the wiring appeared to have been freshly cut.
“Everything was still hot,” Moore said. “I’m surprised we didn’t find them laying on the ground here.”
Moore filed a report with the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office. He said a nearby resident reported seeing someone riding a four-wheeler near the park the day before the theft, but there is no suspect description.
The suspect was not captured on the park’s surveillance system.
“For someone to come out here and make 30 or 40 bucks off the copper wire they took, causing us tens of thousands of dollars in damages, you really have to be kind of a lowlife to do that,” Moore said.
Despite the setback, the community stepped in to help keep games going. Sunbelt Rentals in Crosby loaned the league temporary lights for the remaining games last week.
Moore said the situation has become a lesson in perseverance for the kids playing through it.
“Even though we’re having trouble, those kids have no idea,” Moore said. “We’re still willing to make it work for them.”
KHOU 11 reached out to the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office for comment but has not yet heard back.
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