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TARGETED: Manager David Masters says thieves keep breaking into St George’s Community Centre in Denton
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Yobs raid centre six times in year
Sue Carr16/ 1/2008
A COMMUNITY centre is fighting for survival after six burglaries in less than a year.
St George’s Community Centre, on Windmill Lane, Denton, has been repeatedly targeted since last March by yobs stealing booze from the bar.
Manager David Masters says what’s stolen is worth peanuts compared to the cost of repairing the damage and is appealing for help to catch those responsible.
The centre, a meeting place for everyone from keep fit classes, cubs and brownies to clubs for the elderly, is run by volunteers and survives solely on money raised from hiring out the rooms.
"We’re probably only talking about £30 of booze, but we’re talking £600-£700 of damage every time they come in, breaking down fire doors and kicking doors in," he said.
"I wish I could just leave a crate of lager outside and they’d leave us alone.
"It’s not all covered by the insurance and our excess is £250 so we lose that every time.
"We can’t claim to make the building better, you can only claim to put it back as it was, so if we’re trying to improve security the insurance won’t pay for that."
After each break-in the centre has been forced to close while damage is repaired.
Mr Masters, 48, added: "Hundreds of people use the centre every week and it’s a valuable community resource but we’ve only got limited resources.
"We can’t keep spending money like it’s going out of fashion and I don‘t know what else I can do.
"We’ve put up wire fencing, we’ve got security lights.
"Unfortunately these people come armed with crowbars, pick axes and sledgehammers and if they want to get in they will.
"What we need is for people who live around the centre to keep watch and phone the police if they see anything suspicious," he added.
The latest burglary took place between 1pm on Saturday, 5, and 8.40am on Sunday, 6 January.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 8725050 or Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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2/02/2008 at 01:51