Night attack on trees caught on film
VANDALISM: These images (continued below) taken from Lincoln Event Centre's security camera footage show four youths involved in an incident where about 20 trees were damaged early last week. The trees were uprooted and broken between 10pm Sunday and 1.30am Monday. If you have any information on these three males and one female, phone Lincoln police 325 2800.
Police want to identify the people in these security photos who may be able to help with their inquiries over vandalism at the Lincoln Event Centre.
About 20 trees at the centre were damaged early last week.
CCTV security camera footage caught the images of these people at the centre late on Sunday night.
Police believe they may be able to help with their inquiries.
Event centre manager David Pryor came across the destruction when he arrived for work last Monday morning.
"The trees were strewn all over the place. [A] three metre high tree was actually on top of the children's playground,'' he said.
"There were a lot of beer bottles around.''
Mr Pryor said he was frustrated and disappointed by the vandalism.
"I just thought it's so pointless. We're trying to beautify the reserve for the community and for someone to do that, it just doesn't make sense.''
CCTV footage shows a young man and woman repeatedly visiting the event centre in their car between 10pm Sunday and 1.30am Monday.
During that time they were joined by two male youths, carrying a box of beer.
Up to a dozen trees were pulled out of the ground, said Mr Pryor. Five beech trees and a couple of smaller hedging plants were broken off.
Among the trees ripped from the ground was a beech, about three metres high, which was discovered on top of the children's playground.
The trees were all planted within the past year, some as recently as two weeks ago, said Mr Pryor.
"We're doing a lot of planting at the moment so some were just freshly in the ground.''
He said it appeared the damage may have happened over a couple of nights.
"We've had a wee bit over the last week or so, one or two [trees pulled out] sporadically but this was the worst night.''
Mr Pryor had one thing to ask the culprits: "What's the point of it all? To me there are other ways to have a good time.''
He said: "It's been referred to the police so if they're caught they'll be prosecuted. It's vandalism, so .sorry' doesn't quite cut it. It would be different if it was a one-off or an accident, but this is just wilful damage.''
My Pryor estimated the cost of replacing the damaged trees as between $500 and $1000.
