'Mindless vandalism' shocks South Dunedin football club

The vandalism of a storage shed at Ocean Grove Sports Ground in Dunedin has left club members...
The vandalism of a storage shed at Ocean Grove Sports Ground in Dunedin has left club members Luke Mitchell (9) and Joseph Carvell (9) and president Shane Carvell disappointed and the club out of pocket. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Vandals who trashed a South Dunedin football club's storage shed and clubrooms have left club members and officials shocked and disappointed.

Grants Braes Football Club president Shane Carvell said over the holiday period club officials had had to respond to damage at the club's rooms at the Ocean Grove Sports Ground practically every second day.

Windows had been smashed in the main clubrooms and almost every panel in the walls of the club's storage rooms had holes kicked in.

While nothing was taken, items inside the storage rooms had been tipped over and strewn about, including two buckets of paint, and someone had urinated in one of the rooms.

"It's just mindless vandalism. We shouldn't have to install security cameras, but we are going to have to. We can't afford for this thing to carry on."

Funds raised by club members over the summer would now have to be used to reclad the storage rooms and install security cameras instead of on the extra members the club was expecting following New Zealand's qualification for the Football World Cup.

"With football on the rise, we were expecting a big year. It's disappointing to start it like this."

The vandalism had been reported to police, who had taken photos and fingerprints.

The club had not previously had many problems with vandalism and he appealed to neighbours: .

"If they hear anything, they should ring the police straight away."

debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz

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