“Luke, we’ve been broken into and 17 trampolines slashed.” That was the phone call from Airodrome Trampoline Park owner, Michael Nicholls, to his McKenzie Ross insurance broker, Luke Lalor, on Wednesday morning.
“Right in the middle of our busiest period,” Michael said.
The break-in and subsequent damage made news headlines when 3AW Mornings producer Michael Hilder informed Mornings presenter Neil Mitchell, after taking his daughter to the site yesterday afternoon.
“It’s really quite sinister,” Hilder commented, while Mitchell likened the incident to “a form of industrial sabotage that looks targeted at kids.”
The damaged was discovered by Airodrome Trampoline Park staff as part of their routine opening safety check, carried out before the park is open to any participants. This highlights the excellent risk management procedures at Airodrome and recognises the need for all business to check the adequacy of their own procedures.
“Neil this would have be a disaster,” Hilder went on to say.
After the loss was reported, the insurer was notified and the Loss Adjuster visited the premises the same day. The key items of this claim are the lead time on ordering new trampoline mats as there are only two suppliers in Australia and that the incident occurred in the last week of the school holidays – traditionally one of the busiest times at the park.
Pending the acceptance of this claim, McKenzie Ross has put the client in a position that should see the reinstatement of their business and allow them to return to their usual operations.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
