Jack it in
Cops tell off bowls club for filming vandals.. because they are kids
BOWLING club staff who set a trap to catch vandals claim they were told off by police, for filming the youngsters without permission.
Volunteers took action after a string of break-ins and senseless attacks on property over the past eight months.
In the last couple of weeks alone, there was £3,000 worth of damage when shelters were destroyed for the second time and thugs tried to break into a shed.
So last Friday staff installed CCTV, only to have one of their memorial benches destroyed an hour later.
Footage showed teenagers putting on balaclavas before tampering with the security camera.
Next day, the same group of youths approached the members who were on the green, asking if they could play.
Recognising the youths, they pretended they were leaving in 10 minutes and instead lay in wait.
The vandals returned and volunteers rang police who advised them to lock the youngsters on the bowling green until they arrived to sort it out.
One of the staff at Harehills Park Bowling Club in Leeds filmed them on her mobile but claimed a police officer ticked her off.
The woman who filmed the vandals said: “The police actually complained to me for taking a video because they are kids. They are in a public space. I can film them lawfully so he had no reason to do that.”
But the club insisted it “held no grudges” against the youngsters and added: “We welcome families of these teens to come speak to us, join us for a game of bowls. We know times are hard and we will do our best to help.”
Club chairman Laura Hassoun said: “The police took them home and made them write an apology, so we just hope they do have decent parents who are going to be responsible and hopefully come forward and come and meet us.”
West Yorkshire Police confirmed it attended the club to deal with vandals.
It added: “Two 13-year-old males received community resolutions after they admitted to being involved.
“Reports of burglary and criminal damage are taken seriously, with action taken against those responsible.”