Three boys arrested as Katherine ELC closed by third case of vandalism in seven weeks
For the third time in under two months, staff at the NT school were met with paint and glue splattered across classrooms. Read the details.
Three boys have been arrested after an Katherine early learning centre’s classrooms were left strewn with shattered glass and doused in paint and glue meant for Christmas crafts on Monday.
The disastrous discovery was made by staff on Monday evening this week who were shocked to see the “extensive” damage caused to the Little Joey’s centre and forced to close its doors.
The incident is the third time in seven weeks classrooms have been vandalised at the Katherine school.
In a walk-through video posted online, floors and furniture including rugs and tiny armchairs are shown covered in paint and glue while several shattered windows have thrown glass and rocks across the rooms.
“Look at what the little darlings have done,” a man can be heard saying in the minute-long clip.
“This is the second time in a fortnight this school has been done.”
Police confirmed the same classrooms were allegedly broken into by up to eight young people “under similar circumstances” on October 6.
While several offenders were identified, police are still investigating.
The recent video shows a smashed classroom interactive screen and several damaged windows, including on inside classroom doors, with “everything” pulled out from cupboards and drawers.
It is understood all the supplies meant for Christmas crafts over the next few months were ruined.
Police said three boys had since been arrested with one 10-year-old boy charged.
In a statement on Facebook addressed to families of the 45 children impacted, school principal Sunniva Antonucci said Little Joey’s would remain closed on Wednesday to allow staff to clean up the damage.
“The vandalism to the service is extensive and although educators continue to make progress to their cleaning efforts, the centre will require a deeper clean tonight (Tuesday) by our cleaning team,” she stated.
“Educators will return to the service tomorrow to ensure that our learning environment is safe and reset, ready for the children to rejoin us on Thursday.”
Ms Antonucci said she realised the closure would cause inconvenience, with some parents having to take days off to look after their children, but that safety remained their top priority.
“We thank you for your continued patience and support,” she stated.
NT Police said they first received reports of three youths unlawfully entering the school at 6.40pm on Monday, November 10, and causing “significant damage” inside the premises.
Officers from Katherine attended and arrested three boys aged nine, nine and 10.
The 10-year-old has been charged with aggravated burglary and damage to property and is currently on bail to appear before court at a later date.
The two other young alleged offenders are below the age of criminal responsibility.
Police said they had been referred to the Department of Children and Families, and available programs, for appropriate welfare and support interventions to assist responsible adults with care and supervision obligations.
However, investigations into the incident are still ongoing.
Anyone with information on either incident can call police on 131 444.
Originally published as Three boys arrested as Katherine ELC closed by third case of vandalism in seven weeks
