Classes were supposed to begin at the Shepherd Centre for deaf children on Tuesday, but instead workers are securing windows and clearing up glass after it was vandalised for the second time in just over a month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was targeted as part of a crime spree across Weston Creek on Saturday night, where a primary school and a kindergarten were also vandalised, causing ten of thousands of dollars in damage according to police.
Shepherd Centre chief executive Jim Hungerford said while the physical damage could be repaired, the emotional toll would be much more severe.
"I'm sure we'll be able to replace the physical things [but] we support a couple of dozen young children who are deaf or hearing impaired. It's going to be an emotional shock to them," he said.
"They love coming here and having fun at the centre. That will be a worse problem than the straight-up physical damage."
Police on patrol in the early hours of Sunday morning found 19 windows had been broken at the Shepherd Centre in Rivett.
Mr Hungerford said classes were supposed to start again on Tuesday but due to the damage they would have to cancel the first sessions while they removed the broken glass and made the area safe again.
He said hundreds of volunteers had put hours and hours into the centre, turning it from a plain breeze block building to something special.
"I'm just really angry people would destroy something that was put together with love, just for a few moments of mindless fun," he said.
Mr Hungerford said this was the second incident of vandalism at the school in recent times, after its cubby house was kicked in and vandalised in late August.
One suburb away, police said the vandals had targeted the kindergarten at Chapman Primary School, stripping the keys from a piano, trashing a number of children's projects and smashing projector equipment on Saturday night.
Police said they went to the school about 11.15pm in response to an intruder alarm, and found 30 windows had been broken, possibly with a star picket.
A number of windows were also broken at the Noahs Ark Family and Community Centre, also in Rivett.
Sergeant Louise Denley, who attended the crime scene, said she was appalled at the senseless nature of the criminal damage.
"There's a terrible mess left to clean up. It defies belief that people could be so heartless and destructive. We are hoping that someone saw this group of youths as they moved from one place to another," she said.
Woden sergeant Bill Freeman said the damage had been done to community resources for no reason whatsoever.
"These things struggle to get funding as it is, so it's just wanton senseless property damage for no good reason ... All three of these schools and the centre are there for the community to enjoy and they're there for people who are in need or need education," he said.
Police suspect the same offenders were responsible for all three incidents and AFP forensics teams have attended the crime scenes.
The offenders were believed to be four male youths, all about 170cm tall wearing dark clothing, One was believed to be wearing a white or light-coloured baseball cap.
He said there had been a fourth incident of property damage in a Rivett domestic garden, which may have been related.
Sergeant Freeman said policeencouraged people living near public property, such as schools, to become unofficial guardians over the holiday period.
"Unfortunately during the school holiday period when the schools aren't having regular classes they are targeted for property damage," he said.
Police have asked anyone who witnessed a group of youths in Chapman or Rivett late on Saturday night or early on Sunday morning to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at https://act.crimestoppers.com.au/.
