Anger at vandal attacks growing

Grafton Cetnaj branch manager Glen Creed with the brick which was thrown twice at a window pane of the Cetnaj building. Photo: JoJo Newby

FOUR seconds of mindless destruction that cost a Grafton business $2300 has prompted management to declare war on vandals.

The manager of Grafton Cetnaj, Glen Creed, said someone had smashed a window of his business in Fitzroy St in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He said the attack had been captured on a CCTV system he has only recently installed in the building, but unfortunately the offender was obscured by a building pylon, which has made it impossible to identify him.

"That's just something we're going to tweak," Mr Creed said.

"We've only just installed the system and I'm still learning to drive it. But I want the people out there who do this sort of thing to know what we're coming after them and if I can prosecute them I will.

"Start panicking boys, we're coming to get you."

Mr Creed said the CCTV footage showed a man approach the building then throw a brick at a window then run in, collect the brick and throw it again.

After the first strike an automatic sensor switched on the shop lights, as well as sounding an alarm. The perpetrator ran off in the direction of the TAFE college.

Mr Creed said this was an interesting development as he heard another business near the college was also attacked soon after.

The video footage did provide a shock for Mr Creed.

"I expected to see three or four blokes egging each other on to do something stupid, but this fellow was by himself and was carrying his weapons with him," he said.

"As he walked up you could see he had a coat over his arm and was carrying the brick underneath it.

"He must be one angry little man."

Mr Creed said vandalism like this, plus graffiti, had cost his business more than $30,000, which was the spur for him to install the CCTV system.

"The economy's not great at the moment and you don't want the expense of these things on top of that," he said.

Another Grafton business, Low Pressure Surf Co, was attacked for the second time in 48 hours on the same night.

Owner Noel Smith said the prevalence of attacks and loutish behaviour in Prince St had led businesses to renew their calls for CCTV cameras in the CBD.

"The cost of CCTV equipment has come down around 75% from the last time we got quotes for a system," Mr Smith said.

"About 18 months ago the Chamber (Grafton and District Chamber of Commerce) had a quote for around $40,000, but council (Clarence Valley Council) were not really open to the idea."

Mr Smith said the alternative, which he was considering was to install shutters over the windows.

"We could go the Moree or Walgett look, but it's not going to be a good look for the city," he said.

"Imagine when they get the nice new walkways by the river and visitors turn into a main street that full of shuttered windows."

Mr Smith said authorities should look at other methods of dealing with the problem.

"You can track where the problem is coming from," he said.

"There's one hotel that's open and every incident happens between there and the taxi rank.

"If you cull the traffic flow along that route that would cut the incidents as well."

Mr Creed has shown his CCTV footage to police, who are investigating the incidents.