Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused by youths who went on a wrecking spree in a Lurgan construction site earlier this week.
It’s not the first time The Hollows housing development has been targeted but the damage is the most significant to date.
David Gilpin, the construction site foreman, says while the damage is significant, he has fears someone may be seriously injured – or worse.
Speaking to Armagh I, Mr Gilpin said said this sort of behaviour “normally starts around March every year and will go on to around October”.
And he says these youngsters are not afraid to get caught as they are often spotted in the site shortly after it is locked up in the evening.
“They’re just afraid to get caught, for they are normally in and around the site at 7pm, in broad daylight.
“Normally it’s youths running around the site but this time it’s a lot of damage. But the other major concern of mine is them climbing on the outside of the scaffolding and somebody falling.”
The scale of the vandalism in The Hollows construction site, Lurgan
Posting images of the sheer scale of the wanton vandalism on social media, David said he has avoided publicly calling it out for the last five years but this occasion was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back.
“I have to spend time when I should be off spending time with my kids to deal with this again, and start the process off with the police again,” he said.
“This time I have them on CCTV so any parents around The Hollows Lurgan area please check up on where your kids are going to in the evenings.”
Police confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Sergeant Holmes: “It was reported around 4.30pm that two windows had been smashed, and the frames damaged, at a new build property in the area.
“It is believed that this occurred sometime between Friday, April 7th and Wednesday, April 12th.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone with information, including dashcam or other footage, to contact us on 101 quoting reference 1315 of 12/4/23.”
Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
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