Shire to act after rocks used to smash vehicle windows

A traffic island in Broome will be modified because loose rocks decorating the structure have been used to smash vehicle windscreens at a nearby mechanical repair workshop, about “once every week for the past six months”.

The Shire of Broome has agreed to sink the stones in a bed of cement following a meeting with fed-up Minshull Mechanical owner Warren Minshull.

Mr Minshull said he has been forced to fork-out about $5000 this year from his own pocket to pay for the damage as the vehicles were owned by customers and he could not claim on his insurance.

“I have ended up paying myself as a gesture of goodwill because I can’t afford to lose any customers,” he said.

Mr Minshull said part of the problem stems from a public footpath built next to his front boundary fence about six months ago.

“On average, we have been getting about one windscreen broken a month since the path was put it in,” he said.

“We know they are kids because we have seen them on our CCTV. The rocks match the size and colour of the ones on the island down the road.

“They just walk along, pick up a rock, and hurl it over our fence.”

Shire president Ron Johnston visited Mr Minshull at his yard last Wednesday and, after consultation with chief executive Kenn Donohoe, agreed to cement the rocks into place to prevent them being moved.

“We take this type of thing very seriously and hope this swift action will help prevent the problem,” Mr Johnston said.

Broome police Senior Sergeant Brendon Barwick said officers were aware of ongoing issues regarding damage caused by rock throwing and were heavily policing people identified as being responsible.

“Police closely monitor and proactively engage with persons considered at risk of offending and this includes conveying children back to their family residence and if required, making referrals to community services,” he said.

Mr Minshull now places cardboard sheeting over windscreens to help protect them.

“We have guard dogs, and CCTV but this just keeps on happening,” he said.

“We are considering installing a new type of fence mesh that we will have to pay from our own pockets.”

Mr Minshull said it was important for parents to take responsibility for their children before businesses turn their backs on the town and walk away.

“They should be arrested and their parents forced to come down the cop shop to explain why their kids are not home at three in the morning,” he said.

“If the kids caused any damage, the parents should be made liable. There needs to be some hardcore policing otherwise business people like myself, who have been here 20 years, are going to say, ‘I’m over Broome, I’m over be bull.... here’ and sell-up and leave.”