But its efforts couldn't prevent a March 9 break-in at the snack shack, which resulted in a financial loss of more than $1,100 and the theft of the league's public-address system. This burglary occurred three days before the league's opening day and about a week after the locks had been changed on the shack for the first time in 10 years.

"There were a lot of the old keys floating around out there," said Rob Wells, president of the league's board. The burglars broke in at some point during the night of March 9, entering the shack by removing a metal grill above the sink.

Parents had just restocked the shack for the upcoming opening day, providing the burglars with plenty to choose from. They took about $300 worth of candy and soda. "We had $700 worth of stock, but they only wanted $300 worth," Wells said. Other operational items missing are $100 in baseballs, $75 in umpire shirts and the public-address system, which is worth $600.

Wells said that the speakers for the PA system are quite heavy.

The shack is a sizable building, with roll-up windows in front for game-day operations, two bathrooms and storage areas along a corridor. The storage areas are used by the league and for community events such as the Lunar New Year Unity Parade. Although it is located on the Kennedy property, the shack is owned and operated by the league.

A metal cage covers the exterior of the building, from "the floor to almost the ceiling, but you can scale the metal cage," Wells said. There is a latch on the interior that allowed the burglars to leave without climbing the fencing again.

Sheriff's deputies found a box near one of the property's least visible entrances on Hyannisport Drive containing cables and wireless controllers.

This theft comes at a rough time for the league. Last season, bookkeeping showed that the league's actual revenue wasn't consistent with the number of snack-shack sales. The proceeds generated by the snack shack are used to cover its operational costs and the remaining funds are then reinvested for capital expenses in the league. Wells said that the board had to dip back into the league's funds to quickly replace the supplies that had been stolen.

But according to Wells, the loss wasn't evident on opening day. "The impact to the kids was none," he said. The burglary was announced over a substitute PA system, and by the end of the day, Wells had received several offers from parents to help replace the stolen system.

There still aren't any clues as to the identity of the culprits, but the board has taken this burglary as a sign that security needs to be tightened beyond simply changing the locks. "The sheriff gave us specific security recommendations, and we'll work with the city," Wells said. Recommendations range from placing steel plates over access points to deadbolting access to the storage rooms to installing an alarm. The board is currently considering its best options.

"It never occurred to us that this facility would be at risk," Wells said. "We'd like to put our money into programs for the kids instead of something like this."

To report any information on this crime, call the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Westside Substation at 408.868.6600.