Angus Council has spent almost £200,000 repairing malicious damage to its schools, buildings and public spaces over the past six years.
A Freedom of Information request by The Courier revealed the local authority has shelled out £193,384 to mend 841 instances of vandalism since 2010.
Almost half of all incidents – 393 – took place in the county’s primary and secondary schools, costing the taxpayer £79,468.
The majority of the vandalism occurred in Arbroath with 349 incidents.
Other hotspots were Forfar (140) and Montrose (134).
Brechin accounted for 80 incidents, Monifieth 56, Kirriemuir 53 and Carnoustie 39.
Arbroath councillor Ewan Smith said: “Vandalism is such a selfish act and no one can truly get pleasure out of damaging or defacing someone else’s property.
“The figures for vandalism on Arbroath schools are alarmingly high in comparison to other burghs — even allowing for the fact that more people live in our town than elsewhere in Angus.
“Every small act of vandalism, whether it’s graffiti or breaking something, not only costs the taxpayer money but it spoils things for others.
“I would urge anyone who witnesses vandalism to schools or any other building to contact the police and for would-be vandals to think twice before committing the crime.”
In December 2016, Angus Council condemned brazen vandals who used a chainsaw to cut down trees in a local park.
Three trees were felled at Brechin’s public park in what the authority described as an “inexplicable act” of vandalism.
In August, senior councillors condemned a spate of incidents and urged local communities to play a leading role in stopping the malicious attacks which hammer the public purse.
The Lordburn and Langlands parks in Forfar saw damage to multi-functional play units, and vandals put a hedgehog springer item out of action at Kirriemuir’s Davidson Park.
City of Brechin & District Community Council raised concerns about the condition of toilet facilities in Southesk Street in July, particularly as the town’s public conveniences in Dall’s Lane were permanently closed.
Angus Council expressed their frustration at the vandalism of the toilet, which was covered with writing on the walls and had a loo seat removed.
And in July, ne’er-do-wells were slammed for risking the safety of kids at the West Links in Arbroath.
Five bottles were left alongside tobacco on play equipment, while was also scrawled with obscene graffiti.
One parent described the debris left behind as “absolutely disgusting”.
