Rhett Burnie
A SCARECROW and a mobile phone have helped solve a three-week-long crime spree in Wandong.
Kilmore Police arrested four females and a male at a Wandong property following a break-in at Wandong Primary School last Monday night.
The alleged offenders include two 18-year-olds and a 22-year-old from Wandong, a 22-year-old from Sunbury and a 17-year-old from Thomastown
Senior Constable Leigh Woolfe from Kilmore Police said the group is accused of removing a scarecrow from the school’s vegie patch before breaking into a nearby classroom.
The scarecrow, known to students as Bob, was then placed in the classroom where its clothes were stripped and it was dressed in women’s underwear.
The break-in triggered the school’s alarm system, with police arriving shortly after the incident to find the group in a nearby side street
“We spotted them and then they ran from us and they hid from us,” Snr Const Woolfe said.
The group was later found at a nearby house before being taken in for questioning where they admitted to the break–in.
The next day a mobile phone containing photos of the group posing with the scarecrow in the classroom was found at the school.
Snr Const Woolfe said the alleged offenders also admitted to spray painting obscene words and statements on buildings during previous attacks carried out at the school and at a neighbouring church and LB Davern Reserve.
“They didn’t give a real reason, I don’t know if it was boredom or what,” Snr Const Woolfe said.
Wandong Primary School assistant principal Anthony Potesta said the attacks had upset the school community, particularly the students.
“This is their place, they feel safe and secure here and they want to protect it,” he said.
“It’s extremely frustrating, it’s extremely disappointing.”
Mr Potesta said the school was looking at upgrading its security and had issued a letter to parents telling them the alleged offenders had been caught.
The 17-year-old accused offender received a caution for criminal damage, being unlawfully on premises and use of a false document, after she was found to be in possession of fake identification.
The four adults will be summonsed to court where they will face up to 10 charges each, including burglary, criminal damage, being unlawfully on premises and graffiti offences.
None of the accused are former students of the school.
