By Brendan Rees
A lout has been caught on camera appearing to carelessly kick a football to vandalise a sports facility in Cranbourne East, leaving a hefty clean-up bill.
Video obtained by the Cranbourne Cricket Club appeared to show a teen brazenly kicking a football into the exterior ceiling at the cricket club during broad daylight on Sunday morning 14 June, causing about $10,000 worth of damage.
The senseless act, which is believed to have occurred sometime between 10am and 11am, has devastated club officials who say the vandals left three holes about 10cm wide in the exterior ceiling of the clubrooms.
Cranbourne Cricket Club president Chris Lamb said he found the video on social media of the teen appearing to damage the club while another filmed him. A third is also suspected to have been involved.
Mr Lamb described the vandalism as “pretty disheartening”, but fortunately the club based at Casey Fields, had identified two of the youths which had been handed to police, along with the video.
“They’re standing under it kicking the football into the cement sheeting,” he said.
“To brutally honest I’m shocked there was no one up around there at the time. People are usually kicking a ball or something out on the oval.
“Casey Fields is a pretty spectacular place, it’s a shame that it would be disrespected in that manner,” he said, adding the club was already struggling during the pandemic, with the loss of a sponsor this week.
“We can’t bring our clubs together yet, someone can go there and vandalise the place and things like that it’s pretty disappointing.”
Victoria Police have confirmed the incident and are investigating.
“Cranbourne police are investigating following an incident of criminal damage which was committed at a local sportsground on Sunday 14 June,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“Footage has been provided to police showing three men deliberately kicking a football which caused several holes in the roof of a clubroom.”
Meanwhile, president of the Cranbourne Football Club Shane Baker, whose members also use the facility, said he was disappointed, describing the act as “self-promotion”.
“I think what’s even worse is the blatant advertising of them doing is really equally disappointing,” Mr Baker said.
“They show they’ve got no care for authority and what they’re doing.”
Mr Baker said he did however take solace in the fact that the culprits would be “be found, no problem”.
“Thankfully they provided their own footage … I’m sure they’ll be in for a shock when the Cranbourne Police go knocking on their door.”
