Empty schools become target for thieves and vandals
Thursday, 1st March 2012.
Police have warned of the dangers of the redundant school sites in Haverhill which are being hit by vandalism.
Chalkstone Middle and Castle Hill Middle schools both closed last September but have not yet been demolished.
In recent weeks there has been an escalation in the level of criminal damage being committed to the buildings by offenders climbing over fencing and breaking in.
PC Mike Potter of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team said there had been an increase in the number of members of the public ringing in to report young people in the grounds of the schools and in the buildings themselves.
Windows have been broken and piping and radiators ripped out and stolen.
"We would like to point out that people who get into these buildings could be in danger," he said. "We would like to hear if anyone seese people on these sites."
Police had contacted Suffolk County Council about making the sites more difficult to get into, but the financial outlay to achieve it would be considerable and the council said it was not worth it as the demolition should be taking place within about six weeks.
Meanwhile, PC Potter said, police would be increasing their patrols around the sites.
Chalkstone Middle and Castle Hill Middle schools both closed last September but have not yet been demolished.
In recent weeks there has been an escalation in the level of criminal damage being committed to the buildings by offenders climbing over fencing and breaking in.
PC Mike Potter of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team said there had been an increase in the number of members of the public ringing in to report young people in the grounds of the schools and in the buildings themselves.
Windows have been broken and piping and radiators ripped out and stolen.
"We would like to point out that people who get into these buildings could be in danger," he said. "We would like to hear if anyone seese people on these sites."
Police had contacted Suffolk County Council about making the sites more difficult to get into, but the financial outlay to achieve it would be considerable and the council said it was not worth it as the demolition should be taking place within about six weeks.
Meanwhile, PC Potter said, police would be increasing their patrols around the sites.
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