Club president Geoff Lyons said when he arrived at the Trevallyn Dam shed about 1pm on Sunday, the locks to the roller doors had been pried off, and a panel along the side of the shed had been pried open. 

The fence behind the shed had also been cut by the thieves to allow greater access to the area.

It was believed a motorised compressor was the only thing stolen, which would cost between $2500 and $3000 to replace.

The club will also have to fix all damages.

Mr Lyons said he was “frustrated” that people would do this to a not-for-profit.

“Next year will be my 50th year life saving,” he said.

“I’ve pulled over 100 people out [of the water], and this is the community thanks.

“Is this the state of affairs for volunteers in Australia?”

The compressor taken was the only one owned by the club, and was used to pump up inflatable rescue boats.

“You’ve got to keep the air in these or they’re no use to anyone,” he said.

“We’ll have to pump the boats up by hand.

“The shed has been here about 20 years, and it’s been broken into a couple of times,” he said.

In December, a black Mercury 25 IRB motor was stolen, worth about $4500.

It was taken from the club’s shed at Tailrace Park

In November 2016, another inflatable rescue boat motor was stolen just after the club had suffered damages to equipment from record floods.

A taillight on the IRB’s trailer was being fixed at a repair shop at Legana when the motor was stolen.

The compressor taken from the Launceston Surf Life Saving Club was blue with a black fuel tank, and Launceston Surf Life Saving Club stamped across it. 

The compressor is believed to be Scorpion branded.

The Launceston Surf Life Saving Club was broken into on Saturday evening for the second time since December.

The club’s black and blue air compressor was stolen, and damage was done to locks and metal panels of the shed.

A Tasmania Police spokesperson said an off-duty police officer undertook an initial examination of the scene and provided preliminary advice to Mr Lyons.

“Police Radio Room rang the complainant to advise they were delayed in attending due to other operational incidents that required immediate police response,” they said.

“Because access to the premises wasn’t possible past 5.30pm, the complainant agreed to meet police [Monday] morning instead.”

Anyone with information should contact Launceston Police on 131444, or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au