Centre takes extreme action amid onslaught by alleged kid crims
International Tennis Centre staff will camp out in the pro shop during an upcoming event in an extreme measure to safeguard the facility after being repeatedly targeted by teens looting the premises of booze.
Cairns
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International Tennis Centre staff will camp out in the pro shop during an upcoming event in an extreme measure to safeguard the facility after being repeatedly targeted by teens looting the premises of booze.
The Sheridan Street tennis centre was hit by thieves in the early hours of Wednesday last week, again on Monday morning and for a third time on Tuesday night at about 10.45pm when alleged teen offenders smashed a fire extinguisher through a window while using a wrench to gain access.
A patrolling security service, CCTV and a back-to-base alarm system has done nothing to deter alleged thieves who seemingly access the centre and pro shop at will.
With the Cairns Tennis International Pro Tour set to begin on Sunday, tennis centre treasurer and Queensland Tennis board member Paul Horn is concerned a break in during the event could ruin the tournament.
“It’s a big, big event for Cairns and it’s not a great look, at the moment we don’t trust the centre is safe,” he said.
“Already it’s cost us $6000 in the last week for stuff we know the cost of. It’s been extremely frustrating.”
Damaged locks, smashed windows and stolen booze contributed to the hefty replacement bill.
The latest spate of break-ins follow the arrest of seven teenagers who were charged after allegedly smashing their way into a Cairns tennis centre and making off with a Tennis Queensland vehicle in November last year.
Police suggested to Mr Horn that the centre chain a guard dog outside the pro shop overnight but the tennis executive believed that could be in breach of leasing regulations.
At his wit’s end, Mr Horn said keeping an all-night watch of the International Tennis Centre was the only way to stop the break-ins.
“It’s extremely upsetting, it’s great to have these facilities in Cairns but it’s very hard to maintain them and very hard if these things keep happening,” he said.
“Someone like myself is going to sleep there.”
Cairns is in the grip of a crime wave this week and the International Tennis Centre has been but one business targeted.
Edge Hill businesses Ozmosis, The Nest Cafe and Woodward St Bakery have all reported break-ins, with staff arriving at work to find smashed glass.
They are counting the cost of damaged shopfronts as people go from one cafe to the next smashing windows and stealing liquor.
No arrests have been made in relation to the tennis centre break-ins.
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