Heartless thieves have ripped up $5000 worth of artificial turf from the oval at a Wyndham Vale primary school.
A six-metre by three-metre section of the grass was stolen from Iramoo Primary School in a brazen late-night attack on March 10.
Principal Moira Findlay told Star Weekly the theft was hard to believe.
“It makes you shake your head,” she said. “How can people be so ordinary, particularly towards a primary school?
“There’s so much disappointment because most of our fundraising goes to improving our school grounds, and they’re a great source of community pride.”
Ms Findlay said the thieves had come prepared with equipment to cut the turf and take it away in a ute.
“According to [CCTV] footage, they were in the school at 10.15pm and had gone by 10.20pm, so it all happened very quickly,” she said.
“The school will now have to find the money to replace the turf. It’s a real shame that something else will suffer, as that money could be used to buy books or other things for our children.”
Werribee police’s Senior Constable Kelly Innes said it was clear the thieves had little regard for others.
“You’d think a school playground would be a no-go for the common thief but, alas, that’s not the case,” she said.
Can you help?
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
