Vandals strike at rec complex

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The door to this announcer’s booth at the Pent Road Recreation Complex in Beacon Falls was knocked off its hinges on Sunday by vandals, who caused significant damage at the complex. –LUKE MARSHALL
The door to this announcer’s booth at the Pent Road Recreation Complex in Beacon Falls was knocked off its hinges on Sunday by vandals, who caused significant damage at the complex. –LUKE MARSHALL

BEACON FALLS — Vandals caused significant damage at the Pent Road Recreation Complex Sunday.

Doors to two of the announcer’s booths behind the fields were kicked in, locks on two sheds were destroyed, the screen door to the snack stand was kicked in, trash cans were tipped over, the bathrooms were broken into and toilet paper was thrown over the roof of the snack stand, said Public Works Department Parks Maintainer Steve Moffat, who was at the complex Monday.

Equipment from the announcer’s booths was also stolen, Moffat said.

Moffat said the damage was reported to the Public Works Department and police on Monday morning by someone who was walking through the park. The damage most likely occurred on Sunday night, since no one reported it during the day, Moffat said.

First Selectman Christopher Bielik said it’s disappointing to see this type of vandalism in the complex.

“Clearly we’re all disappointed that somebody would take out whatever frustration they are experiencing personally on something that is used to the benefit of the town,” Bielik said.

Despite the damage, Bielik said, the fields are still able to be used by sports teams and residents.

“There was nothing compromised that will have any impact on what we need to do to keep fields open and in playable condition. There shouldn’t be any impact on any sports,” Bielik said.

The town is waiting on an insurance adjuster to give an estimate of how much damage was done.

Bielik said by Tuesday the field had been cleaned and all repairs that could be done were done. The town also put temporary repairs in place for items that needed more work, he said.

Moffat said he would like to see the town put in more security measures around the complex, such as more lights and cameras.

“The fact is we need more patrols down here at night. The town is going to have to look into further ways of securing the park,” Moffat said.

Bielik said he was looking into the cost of having cameras focused on the high risk areas, such as the sheds where the equipment is stored, at the complex.

Having cameras cover the entire park would be “prohibitively expensive,” Bielik said.

The incident remains under investigation. Bielik asked anyone with any information to come forward and contact police.

“These are not the kind of actions that deserve to be shielded,” Bielik said.

Anyone with information can contact the police department at (203) 729-3313.