Two public toilets have been closed indefinitely in a Suffolk town following acts of ‘mindless vandalism’, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Lavatories in Elmhurst Park and Theatre Street were rendered unusable after being smashed up and stripped of pipework.
Town clerk Chris Walker was alerted to the destruction when she heard gushing water on her route past the Theatre Street toilets on Wednesday morning.
Further investigation revealed extensive damage to the men’s toilets, where pipework had been ripped from cubicles and urinals, causing a torrent of water to flood the floor. The ladies’ toilet was untouched, but will be monitored and, if necessary, closed as well.
That morning, a cleaner found widespread damage to the men’s, ladies’ and disabled toilets at Elmhurst Park, where locks were smashed and pipework torn out.
Unable to break through a steel door, installed to prevent break-ins last month, culprits instead managed to scale anti-climb painted walls and smash into the disabled toilet through a skylight – freshly fixed after being damaged just two weeks earlier.
An electricity box was ripped from the wall, while locks on doors to the other toilets were left damaged. It means the toilets will be off limits for events like the outdoor cinema and music recital later this month, when the town council hopes to provide portable conveniences, at further cost.
Town councillor Lady Caroline Blois called the vandalism “mindless”, while Woodbridge mayor Clare Perkins said: “Whoever did this probably considered it a laugh – that no one would stop them – but we can’t let this happen in Woodbridge. Every crime matters.”
A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: “Police received a report of criminal damage to the male public toilet in Theatre Street, where pipework was ripped off the wall in the toilet areas, causing flooding.
“A second act of criminal damage was also reported to the male, women’s and disabled toilets at Elmhurst Park, where locks on doors were ripped off, pipework was removed and a skylight was damaged beyond repair.”
Officers also received a report of damage to the windscreen of an Audi A3 car in the Peterhouse Crescent area between 8am and midday on Tuesday.
If you have information, call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
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