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Alex de Vos
Ratepayers will foot the bill for a “distressing” theft of public property from Gilbert Street last weekend, expected to cost more than $5000, Surf Coast Shire has revealed.
The public will also pick up the tab for the cost of cleaning up graffiti as part of the Shire’s campaign to stamp out vandalism.
Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Mears said police were investigating the two burglaries, in which thieves stole a “unique” surf board-shaped seat and a solar lighting system.
She said the incidents were “an unreasonable cost to the community”.
“It is extremely distressing when actions like this occur in our shire – we’re not used to it,” Cr Mears said.
But Lyn Smith from the Surf Coast Shire Community and Ratepayers Association’s, who was unaware of the incident, said it was not unusual for vandals to steal and damage public property in Torquay.
“Easter is the worst time for vandalism as well as schoolies week – Christmas time is mainly families,” Ms Smith said.
“I remember once they got stuck into the children’s park where my grandkids love to play and they totally wrecked that.
“It certainly does happen,” she said.
She believed the cost of vandalism was “quite substantial”.
“If they add them all up, even the small things it would be quite considerable.”
The incidents follow the attack on Gilbert Street shops earlier this year and last year’s “rampage” through Torquay Caravan Park.
In January vandals targeted 20 shops with graffiti, using black texta-type pens and etching instruments.
Torquay detective Rod Hill estimated the damage would cost about $50,000.
“Obviously, there’s a large influx of people into the area and we do have increased crime over the holiday period,” Det Hill said.
In December vandals attacked 25 caravans, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Torquay police constable Lynette Kilner said the damage was “considerable”
In response to the attacks, Cr Mears said the shire would provide free “specialised” graffiti removal kits.
“I’m concerned about graffiti as a number of residents have raised this issue with me and have asked that as a community we have a response to graffiti,” Cr Mears said.
A Surf Coast Shire spokesperson said council could not reveal the annual cost of vandalism on ratepayers.
“There’s no separate or easily defined figure for fixing vandalism, graffiti removal or similar as these are not separately defined areas of expenditure,” the spokesperson said.
The City of Greater Geelong spends up to $200,000 each year cleaning up graffiti and repairing damaged public property.