Oatlands Primary School principal Stuart Daly says he is frustrated after vandals tagged “Greeks Rule” on one of the school buildings. 26730 Picture: Meagan Rogers
By Kelly Yates
VANDALS have been on a rampage smashing windows and tagging graffiti slogans throughout primary schools in Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren and Berwick.
As students prepared to head back to school this week, staff and principals were feeling the pressure of cleaning up the mess.
Oatlands Primary School in Narre Warren and James Cook Primary School in Endeavour Hills were both hit by vandals tagging graffiti on school buildings.
Principal at Oatlands Primary School Stuart Daly told the News the offenders had spray-painted “Greeks Rule” on one of the buildings.
“To remove the graffiti is such a waste of resources,” he said.
“It’s frustrating because schools put a lot of time, effort and money into making them look terrific and these vandals are destroying them.”
Spray-painting vandals also left their mark on the back of a building at James Cook Primary School.
Staff at Thomas Mitchell Primary School were forced to clean up broken glass after discovering seven broken windows and smashed beer bottles around the school.
Principal John Hurley estimated the damage bill to be more than $1000.
“It’s disappointing to see this community facility, with soccer pitches and basketball courts, getting mistreated and trashed,” Mr Hurley said.
“The money that we’re spending on replacing the damaged property should be used for purchasing new books for the students,” he said.
Brentwood Park Primary School principal Jim Bell said the school was fortunate it didn’t get attacked during the school holidays.
Mr Bell said the Bemersyde Drive school had installed an 18 metre fence at the front of the property and several security cameras to deter offenders. “In the past we have forked out thousands of dollars due to vandalism,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Cecily Dyos from the Endeavour Hills police station said five youths were issued a formal caution notice for unlawfully being on the property at Southern Cross Primary School.
While police increased patrols over the Christmas period, Sen Sgt Dyos said parents needed to be aware of where their children were at all times.
Assistant principal Anne Robinson said the Endeavour Hills school has in the past had to spend more than $5000 fixing and replacing windows, sky lights and gates.
Hillsmeade Primary School recently installed 24-hour surveillance cameras and according to principal Anne Nicholls, they were an expensive yet worthwhile tool.
“Fortunately we had nothing damaged or no property stolen as a result of the cameras scattered around the school,” she said.
Meanwhile, police have charged two men, a 27-year-old from Doveton and 24-year-old from Narre Warren North, with burglary after an attack at Doveton Secondary College on 24 January between 2.45am and 3am. Both men have been charged on summons with theft-related offences.
Police are also calling for witnesses after thieves raided Berwick Secondary College between 3.17am and 3.20am on 27 January.
Police believe four people, wearing dark clothes and hooded tops, gained entry to the school through the art and graphics room.
Once inside the Manuka Road school, the thieves stole keyboards and computer screens, with police recovering the property nearby shortly after the incident.
Police said the men were seen by witnesses running through the bushes.
Anyone with information is urged to call Senior Constable Mark Higgins from the Narre Warren police station on 9705 3111.
