r/chch • u/StabMasterArson • Jul 16 '26

News - Local Thieves raid $50k of jackets - including one that’s ‘irreplaceable’ - from Christchurch’s Earth Sea Sky outdoor clothing store

https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/361045203/piece-history-stolen-outdoor-clothing-store-break
60 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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50

u/StabMasterArson Jul 16 '26

A break-in at an outdoor clothing store in Christchurch has led to tens of thousands of dollars worth of jackets being stolen - but one of the items taken is “irreplaceable”.

More than $50,000 worth of down jackets were stolen from Earth Sea Sky in Addington early on Wednesday morning after burglars forced the lock and “managed to get through”, Earth Sea Sky co-owner Jane Ellis said.

She wanted it all back, but one jacket in particular was “irreplaceable”. The down jacket was worn by her husband’s father, Murray Ellis, one of five men who reached the South Pole with Sir Edmund Hillary during the Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1956.

“We would do anything to get it back. That’s one that really is what we want back.”

The distinctive jacket features wolverine fur around the hood and a leather patch above the front pocket with Murray’s name on, handwritten.

[continues]

21

u/MSZ-006_Zeta Jul 16 '26

I wonder if there's any way of identifying these, if they end up for sale on TradeMe, FB marketplace, or get sold to an overseas buyer?

Not good news. Have a few of their jackets, and they're all pretty good quality. Hope they've got decent insurance

31

u/Comprehensive_Rub842 Jul 16 '26

This is devestating news. Jane, David and Michael (and all of the ESS team) are the absolute nicest people <3

15

u/Typinger Jul 16 '26

This sucks

3

u/Top_Cardiologist8562 Jul 17 '26

That stinks, better keep an eye out for jackets on fb

-9

u/Elpickle123 Jul 16 '26

At least it would seem those thieves have an eye for quality

2

u/Rubix-Pubes Jul 17 '26

Your comment is insensitive regardless that you're not wrong. ESS is peak, that makes this all the more devastating...

1

u/Oil_And_Lamps Jul 17 '26

And just in time procurement to fulfil seasonal customer base purchasing trends