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Media Release 30 April 2008 A reward of £500 has been offered to help catch vandals who wrecked a children's play area in Exeter.
Vandals went on their wrecking spree at the Hylton Play Area in Exwick earlier in the week, causing an estimated £1,000 worth of damage. They pushed over a brick gatepost and metal railing, kicked in a wooden play bridge and damaged the seats on two wooden springer rides.
Cllr Connel Boyle, Lead Councillor for Environment and Leisure, described the damage as "mindless vandalism" and offered a £500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the offenders.
He said: "Once again I find it difficult to comprehend why people carry out this mindless vandalism. The people that are doing this are cruel and heartless and have no consideration for the people, including many young children, that use this play area.
"I would ask anyone who knows anything this vandalism to get in touch with the police. If you see anything suspicious, report it."
This isn't the first time play equipment in the city has come in for a beating. Last year vandals completely destroyed a popular play train and station at Exhibition Fields. The themed equipment was vandalised over an eight month period. The cost of the damage was estimated to be around £10,000.
Also last year (November), a children's slide in a play area at Haccombe Close was savagely attacked with a hammer in what the manufacturer has described as an unprecedented act of gratuitous vandalism. The metal slide was rendered useless after the attack last month. The force of the attack split the surface of the slide.
There was a similar attack on a slide in Ludwell Valley Park in August, and in July vandals set light to the safety surface under the cone climber at the Haccombe Close site. The cost of the damage to the slide in Haccombe Close was estimated to be around £2,000. |
