Vandals who gained entry by melting a hole in the facility’s main door, hit the Morinville Youth Centre for the fourth time in two months over the weekend.
“They used a blowtorch to melt the Plexiglas door to our youth centre,” said youth worker A.D. Richardson. “Sometimes kids use lighters to try and melt plastic for whatever reason; it’s very obviously a blowtorch.”
Morinville RCMP Staff Sgt. Mac Richards said once vandals gained access, they made off with an Xbox and Wii gaming system — both of which were donated by community members.
This break-in mirrors an unsuccessful attempt made the prior weekend, he said.
“They’re stealing from a very charitable organization — a lot of their stuff is donated for youth,” Richards said. “I’m not sure if it’s youths or not, but at any rate, it’s only hampering the youth in the community.”
He said the investigation is ongoing and it is not yet known if the string of break-ins and break-in attempts were committed by the same individual or group of individuals.
“This one is very similar to one that we saw just previously,” he said. “The other ones were slightly different, but again, (it’s the) same particular place being targeted.”
Richardson said there are surveillance cameras on the premises, although the break-in occurred “too late at night.”
Following the break-in attempt in early May, the facility was advised to remove valuable possessions, although she said workers were unable to do this before the most recent incident.
“With every break-in, they’re a blow to the ego of the youth centre,” she said. “Youth centres are important and we feel that the youth do need a safe place to go.”
The Morinville Youth Centre is located on the west end of town across from the Ray McDonald Sports Centre at 10320 99 Avenue — an area Richardson said is removed from the general traffic.
She said the centre will remain open and further security measures will be explored to deter criminals.
“The kids who need the youth centre, they’re not the ones doing this but they’re the ones who are going to be affected the most by this and so we don’t want this to hinder their use of the youth centre,” she said.
A note was left at a previous break-in, however Richards and Richardson were unable to confirm rumours that a similar note was found after this incident.
“It’s always disappointing when any folks do any sort of public vandalism and destruction,” said Mayor Lloyd Bertschi.
He said despite the break-ins, the community’s crime statistics have shown a decrease in criminal activity.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact Morinville RCMP at 780-939-4520 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
