Raiders smash up refurbished club

4:57pm Tuesday 11th October 2005

YOUNGSTERS' smiles turned to scowls as burglars trashed their youth club the night after its grand reopening.

Youth workers have spent the past six months transforming the Miracles Youth Club, Windsor Road, Gravesend, but now burglars have undone their hard work.

They crashed though doors, damaged locks, smashed a window and tried to rip a plasma television from a wall.

The burglars then made off with a £400 laptop computer, a digital camera and a safe.

In April, the club received £120,000 from Kent County Council's (KCC) youth and community department to fund the club's refurbishment.

Staff used the money to redecorate and provide the club's 50 youngsters with laptops, a plasma screen television and tables and chairs.

The centre was reopened with a party on October 3.

However, when the young people, aged between 11 and 20, returned the following evening their hopes of fun were dashed.

Youth worker Jon Whitfield was called out at 7am to survey the damage.

Mr Whitfield said: "The safe only contained a £10 float.

"I can't believe they moved it. It took four men and a trolley to get it in here.

"All that effort for the sake of nothing. The place was trashed.

"To see the looks wiped off their smiling faces when they found out the place had been turned over was awful. We're all gutted.

"It's an attack on all of the kids who come here and they feel aggrieved people from their own community have done this."

Mr Whitfield estimates the damage at £20,000 and says the club will now have to wait to see if insurers will pay out.

The centre is back in business after a team of locksmiths, cleaners and volunteers repaired the damage in 24 hours.

KCC cabinet member for community services Councillor Sarah Hohler said: "I am deeply saddened about the break-in.

"Despite this setback the centre will remain open and will not be deterred from investing in the provision of education and services for young people."

Anyone with information should call police on 01474 565167, quoting reference 21920, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.