A wave of break-ins and vandalism has troubled Guyra businesses and schools over the past month – apparently the work of youngsters.
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The Guyra Bowling and Recreation Club shed has been broken into four times over recent weeks.
Police have identified a child as the culprit, who will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act, due to their tender age.
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The first time, vice-president David Wilcox said, the kid broke in and pinched the golf-cart, and went joyriding around town.
The child went back a couple of times, pinched golf-sticks and balls, and threw them in the dam.
The child got into the shed by digging under the door. Mr Wilcox said the club had reinforced all the sheds; put cement around all the doorways; and installed extra locks.
Police believe this child is not responsible for other petty crimes in town.
On Friday, January 18, most of Guyra were at Tom Curtain’s country music concert. Someone, though, thought burglary would be more entertaining.
They got into the Landmark yard, Boorolong Street, at 9.35pm, set off the alarms, and legged it – to the Council building in Bradley Street.
They tried to break in to a building behind the council chambers, then removed a window from the chambers themselves.
Although they got into the building, they immediately set off the alarms, and fled the scene.
"It's an unfortunate thing, but it does happen,” Council’s Andrew Strudwick said.
"We will just maintain our existing processes in making sure the alarms are on, and the building is secure when everybody leaves," Mr Strudwick said.
St Mary of the Angels Guyra was vandalised on the weekend of January 23-24. The Parents and Friends room was broken into; fences were damaged; and hoops on the basketball court broken.
“It was very disappointing for us,” principal Sharon Wittig said, “because we’ve not had problems with that before.”
Police are following several leads, and are confident they will identify the offender.
Anyone from the community who may know about the incidents should contact the police on 6738 4299, or Crime Stoppers NSW on 1800 333 000.
In response to the small spike in crime, police have increased patrols in the Guyra township, particularly in the early hours of the morning, and extended police shifts during the week.
Police said there had been no break-and-enters since, nor were there any more incidents during the Lamb and Potato Festival.
The Guyra police station is not manned 24/7, and some locals believe Guyra should have more of a police presence.
The police said they were always on call; they could draw on officers from Guyra, Armidale, and the greater district, while the Armidale police conduct regular night patrols.