Laurimar Cricket Club is fed up with vandals damaging its pitch.
The Doreen club was targeted by vandals for the second time in as many weeks on November 23.
Club president Jason Merrett said he was alerted to the incident, which burnt the pitch, about 11.30pm by two members of the club.
“They put sparklers in deodorant cans … it was a fairly big bang,“ Mr Merrett said.
“There were two separate explosions.”
Two weeks prior, Mr Merrett said another act of vandalism led to a burnt hole in the pitch that required Whittlesea council staff to carry out repairs.
“It seems to keep happening … how many times does [the] council have to bend over backwards for it to get it [fixed] quickly?” he said.
Mr Merrett conceded it “hasn’t been flash“ over the past six months with the two vandalism incidents and the club room being ravaged by a fire in August.
“I’m sick of it happening, this is twice in two weeks … I hope they get caught and realise they can’t do that in the community.“
Whittlesea chief executive Craig Lloyd said the council was “extremely disappointed“ with the act, which affected local sport and cost ratepayers money.
The vandalised pitch was repaired by council staff on November 29.
A police spokesperson said Whittlesea detectives are investigating the incident.
“It is understood unknown offenders attended a reserve on Montville Street [at] about 11.15pm. Police were told the offenders lit a fire on the synthetic cricket pitch and stole part of the pitch before throwing it into a nearby lake. They fled the scene prior to emergency services arriving,” the spokesperson said.
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
Oscar Parry
