Vandals, you are being watched, you will be caught, and you will pay for the damage.
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That is the message coming out of Tamworth Regional Council this week after nine people have been caught vandalising Tamworth playing fields in vehicles in the last month.
The latest incident was on Monday night, where three people in one vehicle vandalised three fields, including Dick Edwards Oval (Riverside 1), and Riverside 2.
Councillor and Crime Prevention Committee Chair Russell Webb confirmed on Friday that damages will be sought from the three people in the car, as well as charges pending.
He also confirmed that the offenders had been caught via the suite of surveillance cameras around the CBD, which were recently extended to include Bridge st, and the Carter street playing fields.
In some other cases police were tipped off by members of the public, who were then either catching the vandals red-handed, or identifying offenders’ vehicles on surveillance footage.
“This month we have had three separate evenings where people have been caught driving on our ovals,” Cr Webb said.
“It is disappointing to see so many young people participating in anti-social behavior, but we are pleased that they have been caught, and we hope that this will serve as a lesson to other likely vandals and deter them from the same fate.”
The acts have so far resulted in one count of malicious damage and several infringement notices, with some offenders still juveniles, although Cr Webb said the best way to punish the vandals will be to hit them in the pocket.
“Penalties are a matter to be determined for the courts, but the biggest penalty would be the embarrassment of being caught, and having to then pay for the damages that they have caused, and some of those damages go into the thousands of dollars,” Cr Webb said.
“People have been caught and made to pay damages, and it is not just vandalism on the playing fields, but also other crimes like graffiti – and that is what they are, crimes, and it will cost you money.”
Cr Webb has also urged residents to let police know if they are, or have, witnessed acts of vandalism, because in the end it is costing the ratepayers money.
“Sporting fields cost the community a lot of money, and are great assets,” he said.
“One of council’s business roles is to protect community assets, so we do spend money installing CCTV, boom gates and having staff patrol them when we need to.”
“When vandalism happens it is very costly and it is the community that pay.”
