Washing machines at a Dundee community hub have been destroyed by vandals for the fourth time.
Two washing machines and a drier at Fairfield Community Food Larder were destroyed at around 5pm on Sunday after a group of boys rode up on bicycles and threw bricks at the machines.
The boys are said to have been aged between the ages of 12 and 15 and were wearing black hoodies.
They fled the scene on their bikes after destroying the machines.
Community washing machines vandalised four times
Jim Sorrie, a trustee of Fairfield Community Sports Pavilion where the larder is based, says it’s the fourth time the facilities have been targeted since they opened.
He said: “Three young boys with hoodies on and bikes came and threw wee bricks at the washing machines and the drier on Sunday.
“It’s happened before.
“We serve 502 families, which accounts for more than 1,300 people.
“Vandalism like this has an effect on all of them.”
Vandalism ‘costs the whole community money’
While users have to pay to use the machines, their high energy efficiency means they’re significantly cheaper than using a washing machine at home.
The larder are planning to repair or replace the machines, however they aren’t sure how much it will cost.
Jim added: “It’s going to be quite a bit of money.
“It costs us money, it costs the whole community money.
“It takes our volunteers away from other stuff to deal with it.
“I just don’t understand why they’re doing it – it’s just stupid.
“We’ve reported it to the police, but of course there’s not too much they can do.”
Jim says the incident has been reported to the police.
Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.
The machines were last targeted by vandals in August, when they were once again smashed and destroyed.
Facilities manager Danny McGregor said at the time: “We don’t know exactly how much it’s going to cost to repair them yet but we do know it’ll be hundreds and hundreds of pounds.”
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