The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Dumper-truck rampage
Machinery driven into buildings and fencing
Teenagers as young as 13 who went on a dumpertruck rampage have caused thousands of pounds of damage on the site for the new Inverness College.
Police said the four 13 and 14-year-olds were believed to have entered the site at Beechwood via the railway line before driving the heavy machinery into security fencing and buildings.
A passerby called 999 after spotting the teenagers “playing” on dumper trucks at about 5.40pm on Sunday.
They caused damage to
“They are believed to have gained access via the railway line”
old farm buildings on the site, comprising four cottages and a stable block.
When the youths realised they had been spotted they fled in the direction of Smithton. The stable block was subsequently demolished due to health and safety concerns.
A Northern Constabulary spokeswoman said: “They are believed to have gained access via the railway line, which itself has its own issues. They were mucking about on the machines and came into contact with a building and crashed into the entrance fencing, causing damage in excess of £2,000.
“We don’t know how they managed to get the machines started and are concerned they were driving dangerous machinery. They couldhave potentially put their lives at risk.”
Three of the teenagers were wearing black hooded tops while one was wearing a white hooded top.
A spokeswoman for site owners Highlands and Islands Enterprise ( HIE), said: “Significant damage was done to the farm steading cottages, plant and machinery on the Invernesscampussitebyvandals. Police are investigating and we urge anyone with any information to contact them directly."
The college will move to Beechwood in 2015 as part of a plans for a new multimillion-pound education campus. Inverness-based firm Morgan Sindall has been working on the project since January.
The firm’s area director, Neil Duncan, said: “Morgan Sindall takes both plant and site security extremely seriously.
“We place a significant emphasis on ensuring suitable security arrangements are in place across each of our sites to prevent unauthorised access as well as making sure that all plant equipment is secure and immobilised.
“We also regularly work with local communities to educate schoolchildren about the dangers of construction sites.
“Despite the site perimeter fence meeting Health andsafety Executive guidelines, in this instance it was breached.”
Police can be contacted on 01463 715555.