Townsville youth crime: Love2Swim School broken into two nights in a row

A Townsville swim school has been left with thousands in damages after their office and canteen were destroyed by youths in back-to-back break-ins. See the video.

A Townsville swim school has been left with thousands in damages after their office and canteen were destroyed by youths in back-to-back break-ins.

Love2Swim School owner Kristie Love-Pelletier said her small business had been left reeling after being broken into over two nights at the Kirwan Aquatic Centre on Sunday and Monday.

She said the worst of the damage was done on Monday night when youths used bolt cutters to cut through chains and got into their office, where they smashed up the computers.

The canteen was also trashed, including a slushie machine that was thrown on the ground.

“It’s just devastating,” Ms Love-Pelletier said.

Tameika Day from Love2Swim School at the Kirwan Aquatic Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We leave nothing of value at the pool but they damaged everything.

“They were rifling through all our paper work as well, I think they were trying to find the code for the safe.

“They found some keys and must have thought they belonged to one of the cars parked nearby, but it was actually the school cleaners’ car, and they smashed it up once they realised they couldn’t get in.”

Tameika Day from Love2Swim School at the Kirwan Aquatic Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

Ms Love-Pelletier said this wasn’t the first time the swim school had been hit by youth crime.

She said a group of about ten youths broke into the LongTan memorial pool, where Love2Swim School also operates, on the weekend.

Tameika Day from Love2Swim School at the Kirwan Aquatic Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

“This is becoming the modus operandi and should not be. Townsville needs more support in the early hours of the mornings and more police to help with the crime,” she said.

“Stay safe, but just know our pool had alarms, cameras with warning signs, roller doors, chains and locks, and it was no match for them.”

Police are investigating Monday’s break in and no arrests have been made at this stage.

Youths broke in and trashed the Love2Swim School in Kirwan on February 26.

Originally published as Townsville youth crime: Love2Swim School broken into two nights in a row