Teen arrested after 81 windows smashed at Canadian Lead Primary School in Ballarat

Ballarat students have been forced to vacate their classrooms after a teenager allegedly smashed more than 80 windows at a primary school in an “absolutely vile” attack.

A teenager has been arrested after allegedly smashing 81 windows at a Ballarat primary school.

Police were called to the Canadian Lead Primary School at 7.40pm on February 26 after multiple calls to 000.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested at the Otway St school and interviewed by police.

A Victoria Police spokesman said the teen was “expected to be charged on summons at a later date”.

The clean-up for the “senseless attack” on the school began on Thursday morning.

Classes have been moved to the neighbouring Mount Please Primary School, according to a Department of Education spokesman, as the school organised to clean up and replace the broken windows.

“Police are investigating vandalism that occurred overnight at Canadian Lead Primary School,” he said.

Ballarat local Valerie Mootoosamy recently made the move to the regional city from Melbourne, identifying a difference in local schools.

“It’s something I noticed when I moved from Melbourne to Ballarat — Canadian Lead doesn’t have much security,” she said.

“Since I’ve moved here, I’ve had run ins with teenagers, from stealing things from my front porch to throwing food all over my car near the bus stop in central Ballarat.

The windows are being removed and replaced.

“I’ve seen so much damage around town and reading all the issues that’s going on, the teenagers are really the kings of Ballarat as there is no policing kids.”

Ms Mootoosamy said she wasn’t sure how the school could “stop the ferals from doing it again”, because the school was “open to anyone and everyone 24/7”.

AAA Glass are on site assisting with the replacement of the windows.

Community member Amber Lee called the attack “absolutely vile”.

“The only people hurt by this were kids,” she said.

“This is their education space, a place they have a birthright to feel safe and not have their belongings ransacked – it’s absolutely vile.”

Other school community members have labelled the incident on Facebook as “unsettling” and “senseless”.

Workers from AAAGlass are on site assisting with the damage.