By JONATHON HOWARD
CRUCIAL funding from Warwick East State School’s maintenance pool is being diverted towards vandalism repairs, according to the school’s principal Warren Elder.
Mr Elder has made a desperate appeal for public witnesses to help police track down the suspected repeat offenders, following the latest break and enter over the weekend.
The school was targeted for the second time in as many weekends – and the damage bills are stacking up.
Warwick Police Senior Sergeant Stewart Day said police were investigating the break and enters which occurred sometime on the weekends of 12-13 April, and between Friday, 19 April, and Sunday, 21 April.
Snr Sgt Day said the latest offence had caused minor damage to school property and – as with the previous break-in – no items were stolen from the school grounds.
Mr Elder informed students of the break in and vandalism during Monday’s assembly.
“We keep the students informed at assembly of what has occurred and want to ensure them that the school is safe,” he said.
“We are appealing for community help in order to support the police investigation in tracking down those responsible.”
Mr Elder described the act as nothing more than aimless vandalism, but was concerned about the diversion of crucial school maintenance funding.
“We have to divert funding from the school’s maintenance fund to clean up the vandalism, as opposed to using that funding on school maintenance needs,” he said.
Both the previous break and enter, and last weekend’s, means the clean-up bill was expected to climb towards hundreds of dollars.
Anyone with information can contact Warwick Police on 4666 4444, or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
