A trip down memory lane took an unexpected turn into a criminal investigation after attendees of an alumni event at the old Stoneham High School allegedly made off with a stash of sports equipment. During the event, intended to bid farewell to the aging school building before its scheduled demolition, an estimated crowd of nearly 400 former students—more than the expected 200—converged to relive their high school days, as reported by Boston 25 News.

However, nostalgia turned sour when it was discovered that equipment—including football helmets valued at $400 each, field hockey and football jerseys, and practice shorts—had been pilfered. The theft affected ten fall sports teams, with losses estimated to be between $6,000 and $8,000, as stated by Stoneham School Superintendent David Ljungberg. He also cited the school's tight budget constraints and the costly road to completing the new school, according to MassLive.

Authorities believe the perpetrators accessed the Athletic Training Room, designated off-limits and secured behind locked doors, by navigating through less-trafficked corridors and utilizing an unlocked back door—an unfortunate oversight admitted by Superintendent Ljungberg, as reported by CBS Boston.

In light of the theft, the Stoneham Athletics Department issued a fervent call for help over social media, expressing the dire need for the equipment’s return to ensure the viability of the upcoming sports seasons. "Our current athletes need this stuff and can't compete without it. I am begging for anyone who took something to please return it asap," they stated, emphasizing that the well-being of fall sports was in jeopardy; the school said it was working with the Stoneham Police Department, which has since launched an investigation into the incident and is urging anyone with leads to contact detectives at 781-438-1215, as noted by CBS Boston.