Rec reserve team reacts to break-in

STRONGER security measures are set to be put in place at Meredith Recreation Reserve following a break-in earlier this month.

On Thursday 11 April at around 7.30pm a person was caught graffitiing the site before being apprehended by local police.

Following the initial incident, the assailant was then said to have returned to cause further damage.

“They broke into the cleaning cupboard, they cut a chain off the alcohol fridge and they also broke into the storeroom in the changerooms,” said recreation reserve secretary and president of the local tennis club Maddy McColl. “They’d just kicked in doors pretty much, and they only took the alcohol. It’s disappointing because we’ve never had any graffiti to this extent. It was very prominent.

“Because of the changeover between the cricket, footy, and tennis clubs, I was told there were too many fingerprints around and it wasn’t worth fingerprinting because there’s too many people to rule out.

“I was told the person had other things going and this wasn’t a first-time offence.”

The cleanup cost for the graffiti was nearly $800.

The incident immediately preceded the reserve’s committee’s regular meeting a few days later, during which Ms McColl said steps were taken towards a more secure site.

“We voted we’re going to get cameras put up if we’re allowed by DEECA. At the very least we’ll be putting a sound alarm in so if somebody does go in, a neighbour might be able to hear it going off,” she said. “We’ll also be getting all new locks.”

Ms McColl said the community has been quick to offer support for the club.

“A local’s offered to come in and give a quote for the damages and another’s offered to fix it for free,” she said. “It’s been a few volunteers coming in and helping.

“The rec reserve is so important to everyone and we need to know that we can use it and keep our things there and have them be safe.”