Grandville robotics team robbed

TORONTO (WOOD) - The Grandville High School robotics team was robbed as it competes in Toronto.

A truck and a trailer belonging to a chaperone were stolen, Grandville Public Schools Superintendent Ron Caniff told 24 Hour News 8.

The owner of the vehicle told Caniff he was only away from the truck for about a half hour, and when he returned, the truck and trailer were gone around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The trailer contained the team's backup robotics, several computers and many of the participants' luggage.

About 60 members of the Grandville RoboDawgs are participating in FIRST Robotics Canada, a robotics competition at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

Caniff said another vehicle contained the team's primary robots for the contest, allowing the team to continue participating.  

When school officials were told of the theft, another crew that was headed to Toronto was turned around.

"The students via cellphone called their parents and said, 'Hey, we have had our luggage stolen and there is a car coming back to Grandville. If you could get up there and get some replacement clothes into that vehicle, we could shuttle them," explained Caniff.

The thieves stole the RoboDawgs' support gear, which is going to put the team at a competitive disadvantage.

------

Inside woodtv.com:

Photos: Traverse City Robotics Tournament, which Grandville attended