Frankston vandalism: old man shivers in smashed bus shelter
THIS is the scene that forced an off duty police officer to stop in his tracks. Now he wants everyone to know vandalism is not a victimless crime.
South East
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THIS is the heartbreaking scene that forced an off-duty police officer to stop in his tracks.
An old man, shivering in the cold in the rubble of a vandalised bus shelter outside Vasey RSL Care, Frankston South.
The officer, who did not want to be identified, was so infuriated, he took a photograph of the pitiful scene and sent it in to the Leader to highlight the human cost of vandalism.
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“This bloke was sitting in what should have been an area to protect him from the icy morning wind,” the officer said.
“Instead, thoughtless vandals felt it was more important to get their senseless kicks. It shows vandalism is senseless, but not victimless.”
City of Frankston Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association vice president Darrel Taylor said locals had had a gutful of vandalism.
Mr Taylor said vandalism of bus stops exposed commuters to the elements and made them feel unsafe.
“It brings a sense of unease to people when they come to these smashed up pieces of infrastructure,” he said.
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Mayor Colin Hampton said vandalism cost to ratepayers more than $400,000 annually, with over 35,000sq m of graffiti removed around Frankston in the last year alone.
“This money could be better spent on improvements that benefit the whole Frankston community,” he said.
He said initiatives to tackle vandalism included CCTV cameras and an extensive graffiti management program.
Police Minister Lisa Neville last week unveiled a $273,000 upgrade to Frankston’s CCTV network that included 15 new cameras.
Vasey RSL Care chief executive Janna Voloshin said it was frustrating the bus shelter had been vandalised, but praised authorities for the quick response to clean up the mess.
“We have experienced the occasional incident of vandalism outside our independent living village and aged care residence, but nothing of a dangerous nature,” she said.
Senior Sergeant Phil Hulley, of Frankston Police, said vandalism spiked during school holidays when children had more time on their hands.
Senior Sergeant Hulley said transit police had a good “strike rate” of arresting graffiti vandals who targeted public transport infrastructure.
Report graffiti on 1800 668 247 and bus shelter vandalism on 1800 501 402.
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