Thieves have stolen seven ornamental trees, valued at about $700, from The RUC at Turner.
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Club staff fear the Japanese Maples will not survive the move as the plants flower in spring and disrupting the root system could prove fatal.
It is the second significant theft from the northside clubs grounds this year, with flooring, to be used in a newly created gym, swiped in March.
ACT Policing confirmed it had received a report that seven plants had been stolen in Turner on Friday, November 3 about 3am.
The plants had been placed outside the gym, housed in the old bowls clubhouse, to improve amenity.
RUC Turner secretary-manager Jeremy Wilcox said the establishment of the gym had been a combined effort between the RUC and Uni-Norths Owls to help players improve their strength and conditioning.
Mr Wilcox said the theft had been well planned, with the thieves parking in an adjacent park and then carrying the trees across the road to the waiting vehicle.
"It wasn't an impulse thing, it was someone who'd seen [the trees] here before. It would've taken a few blokes," he said.
"It's frustrating, we're just trying to make the place look good because we're trying to set up a real community club, that involves volunteers, the club, and local sport groups who meet here.
"Every decision we make now will be about whether it will get stolen or destroyed, or whether we need more security, and it's yes, to all those questions, so it's really frustrating."
Mr Wilcox said the club had also been targeted when the Owls had half a load of flooring – which it had purchased for the gym – stolen from the club in March before it could be laid..
"The Owls don't don't have bucket loads of money, the income is from chook raffles and barbecues on the weekend, so this sort of thing is deflating," Mr Wilcox said.
But, despite the disappointment, Mr Wilcox said he would gratefully accept the trees back, with no questions asked.
"If they want to sit down, I'll buy them a meal and a drink and tell them what we're trying to do here, and I'll still be no questions.
"They're flowering, so if you disrupt the root system it's very hard to replant them, although we'd still like them back on the off chance they can be replanted.
"It's such a waste, we're all a bit frustrated."
Mr Wilcox urged anyone with any information to call the police or the club.
"We'd love to know," he said.
Anyone with information can contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website and should quote reference 6186472. Information can be provided anonymously.
