Cherry Lane Arcade in Rockhampton’s CBD vandalised with a swastika

A frustrated business owner who has suffered thousands of dollars in damage from vandalism says while the police are doing a great job, the court needs be ensuring people take responsibility for their actions.

A business owner who spotted a swastika spray painted on the side of a Rockhampton CBD shopping complex says vandalism is only worsening and he is suffering the consequences, not those behind the graffiti.

PNE Art and Framing Peter Genders saw the hate symbol, related to Nazi ideology on the back wall of Cherry Lane Arcade on East St on Friday, February 23, after he heard people jump onto his roof about 1.30pm.

He said he went out the back of the store and allegedly found a group of people running across his roof, which had been tagged with graffiti.

Swastika graffiti in the Cherry Lane Arcade on East St, Rockhampton City. Picture: Aden Stokes

“When I caught them they just yelled out ‘what are you going to do?’,” Mr Genders said.

“That’s when I noticed the swastika in Cherry Lane Arcade.”

PNE Art and Framing owner Peter Genders. Picture: Aden Stokes

Mr Genders said he had lost $3000 worth of stock because of people jumping on my roof causing leaks.

“In the last three months I have had to replace laptops,” he said.

“I can’t afford to keep on replacing the product or having it written off because I can’t claim it on insurance.

“I just want it to stop.”

Graffiti on the roof of PNE Art and Framing in the Rockhampton CBD. Picture: Contributed

Mr Genders said he thought the swastika was “very offensive”.

“Unfortunately there aren’t a lot of people around to dissuade people,” he said.

“It is very unfortunate it is just outside a psychologist.

“I think there are just too many people out there with too much time on their hands and not enough respect for other people’s property.”

Graffiti on the roof of PNE Art and Framing in the Rockhampton CBD. Picture: Contributed

Mr Genders said the graffiti on his roof was in colour, whereas, the swastika was sprayed on the wall in black.

He said he had been in the Rockhampton CBD for 36 years and in the current East St location for the past 15 years.

“We’ve had Snoopy carved into our front window for the last 15 years,” he said.

He said the vandalism seemed to be getting worse.

Graffiti on the roof of PNE Art and Framing in the Rockhampton CBD. Picture: Contributed

Mr Genders said people must take some responsibility for their actions or provide some form of compensation.

“No one wants to take responsibility for their actions,” he said.

“The police are doing a fantastic job. It’s the court process.”

Mr Genders words echoed those of many people frustrated by youth crime at the recent forum.

Cherry Lane Arcade on East St, Rockhampton City. Picture: Aden Stokes

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said a 20-year-old Koongal man had been charged with one count of unregulated high-risk activities in relation to the alleged incident on the roof of PNE Art and Framing on February 23.

He is due to appear in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 18.

The owner of Cherry Lane Arcade said he would have the swastika removed.

Originally published as Cherry Lane Arcade in Rockhampton’s CBD vandalised with a swastika