Frequent users of Bill Wilkes reserve in Richmond were “angry and disappointed” to discover vandals had attacked areas of the park overnight on Saturday, September 22. Grates were ripped from drains, freshly planted trees uprooted and the cherished children’s swing burnt.
Nearby resident Colleen Gibb says, while it’s usually just beer bottles and takeaway wrappers left behind, this time the vandals have “overstepped the mark”.
“Obviously, somebody thought it was a smart idea to ruin someone’s fun, it was a kid’s swing,” says Roddy Gordon. “We need to focus on swift reporting so when someone sees something like this happening it’s dealt with straight away. We should be able to name and shame them if they’re caught. It’s time to catch them now before they move onto another level of crime.”
Police say the culprits were not caught.