Council workers are tired of reporting incidences of vandalism, as offenders run rampant in Armidale.
“We’ve given up reporting to police,” Armidale Regional Council worker Nick Adams told The Express.
Police are responding with some significant arrests, but it’s not enough, Mr Adams said.
We’ve given up reporting it to police.
- Nick Adams
“The toilets at arboretum get set on fire every second day.
“We’ve had trouble at the lookout with garbage … I’ve reported that over and over.
“We had some kids riding around the cemetery on motorbikes and we called the police … nothing happens.”
Mr Adams said almost everyday he finds himself cleaning up after vandals, including last Friday when he arrived before Armidale’s Remembrance Day service to find smashed bottles and graffiti at the park.
“They kicked the top off the fountain and took it away … they filled the fountain full of mud and dirt and ripped some poppies out,” he said.
“I just don’t have an hour to sit down on the phone with them [police] and go through it.”
Council worker Josh Deiderick has described the incident on Friday as “disgusting” and “disrespectful”.
“[It’s] disrespectful to the diggers that fought for our country,” he said.
The issue is currently “an extremely high priority” for police, said acting Inspector Matthew Crotty from the Armidale Police Station.
Inspector Crotty said police have made some headway with the recent arrest of a 27-year-old man who is believed to be linked to the incidences.
The offender has been charged with breaking into a car, stealing property, five counts of fraud and one count of attempted fraud after using a stolen credit card.
He has been granted conditional bail and will face Armidale Local Court on November 28.
“We’re going to be out all hours of the day and night until we address the problem,” Inspector Crotty said.
“We will catch up with these individuals.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or call the Armidale police on 6771 0699.
