Greg Farley was left disgusted this week when vandals targeted storerooms at Max Pawsey Reserve.
By Rebecca Fraser
FOUR Narre Warren sports clubs have been hit for six.
On Tuesday, four roller doors at Max Pawsey Reserve were smashed during a daylight vandalism spree that disgusted members of local sports clubs.
The Magid Drive reserve is home to the Narre Warren Little Athletics, Fountain Gate Cricket Club, Fountain Gate Auskick and Fountain Gate Junior Football Club.
Soft drink was stolen during the break-in but sporting equipment was left untouched.
The City of Casey Council will now foot the bill for the new roller doors.
Greg Farley, secretary of the reserve’s committee of management, said all clubs had been disappointed by the latest act of vandalism.
Mr Farley has been involved with the reserve for the past 25 years and said the venue has been broken into about five times in the past five years.
He said all clubs were trying hard to encourage young children to play sport and these acts of vandalism were very disheartening.
“This is an absolute disgrace,” he said. “We try to encourage kids into sport and then other kids have no regard for public property and come and do this.
“This is a council-owned building so ratepayers in the long run are paying for the damage.”
The break-ins come just days after two other local recreation reserves were hit by thieves.
Clyde Recreation Reserve was broken into sometime on the weekend, with a stereo system valued at $300, food supplies and about $400 worth of alcohol stolen.
Last Friday night the Hampton Park United Soccer Club and Hampton Park Cricket Club were affected after thieves broke into rooms at the K.M. Reedy Reserve.
They left empty handed but caused significant damage to the building.
Clyde Recreation Reserve committee of management president Richard Howie said thefts from sports clubs were all too prominent.
In May the Narre Warren South Lions fell victim to thieves when $2000 worth of food and equipment was stolen from its canteen.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford has said council officers would be reviewing security at local sports venues following other thefts at the Lynbrook Cricket Club and other Casey sports venues.
Casey manager building services Ron Walker said the council had identified high-risk sports venues and were reinforcing night-time lighting and implementing other security measures.
He said council spending on cleaning up vandalism at local sports venues had actually declined and he did not believe the number of incidents had increased.
“These things do come along from time to time and when there are school holidays things tend to happen,” he said.
Police have interviewed three young men in relation to the Narre Warren break-in and expect to interview a fourth.
Police said those involved would either receive a police caution or be charged with various theft, burglary and/or criminal damage offences.
