By KATH GANNAWAY
THREE Warburton teenagers will face criminal damage charges after a $25,000 vandalism rampage through the town in March.
As many as 14 shops and other buildings were spray painted or had front windows etched in the attack on 25 March.
Warburton police said the attack took place in the middle of the night on the first week of school holidays.
Senior Constable Rob Firns said the three people between 15 and 18 and had been identified from CCTV footage and would be charged.
Owners of shops targeted in the attack, and others involved in the tourism industry which is the life-blood of the town were shocked at the extent, and the impact on the town, coming as it did before the high-peak Easter long-weekend.
The cost to businesses to replace windows, and cover increased insurance costs as a result, is also significant.
Peta Godenzi, president of business and tourism group, Warburton Valley CEDA, labelled the attack as wanton vandalism.
Ms Godenzi said in addition to the cost to individual businesses, it created a negative impression of Warburton.
“It impacts as a tourist town and doesn’t create a good impression of this community,” she said.
“We have people come every weekend, and particularly over Easter, and it does not look good.”
Ms Godenzi said Warburton as a town had a strong graffiti policy and worked well with Yarra Ranges Council to ensure that graffiti was removed quickly.
Warburton Newsagency was one of the businesses whose glass window was etched, and owner Shan Lonappan said they were still working out what was the best and most affordable way to deal with it.
He said he was working with about 10 other shops to get quotations for fixing these damages which would involve either polishing or replacing very expensive expanses of glass.
“We have insurance, but the problem is the excess which is around $500 or $600, but it’s also that if you claim the premium goes up,” he said.
“Everyone would be facing that dilemma.”
The three young people will be summonsed to face Mark Graffiti and Criminal Damage charges at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court at a date to be set.
