Vandals concern Motueka police

Motueka police are concerned about a spate of vandalism and minor arson in the town during the past two weeks.

Last weekend there were at least six incidents, ranging from a slide being set alight at Parklands School to six windows being smashed at the Imagine Theatre by stones thrown from Thorps Bush.

The new pool fencing at Parklands School was cut, a bush set alight at Motueka South School, windows broken at the Senior Citizens hall at Memorial Park, a brush fence set alight in Poole St and someone broke into Memorial Hall.

Sergeant Rob Crawford said two youths had been referred to Youth Aid in connection with separate incidents and police were following strong leads in several others.

Although the incidents were all unrelated, Mr Crawford said in most cases it appeared the offenders were young and often intoxicated.

He said police were trying to determine who had supplied the youths with alcohol.

Meanwhile, the Nelson Fire Service is worried about a number of deliberately lit "nuisance" fires which firefighters have attended in the Tahunanui Beach area.

Nelson Fire Service station officer Richard Lovering said during the past week or two the service had been called to a number of fires near the beach.

Last week the Nelson BMX Club's wooden tower was set alight. Firefighters put out a scrub fire in a back beach car park this week and on Friday night eight rubbish bins were set alight in the Lions Playground car park at the beach.

"They are all nuisance fires, just little things that drag us away from potential real fires. Fortunately, Nelson doesn't have a lot of serious fires, but there's always the potential and if we are away attending something we are not available to fight other fires."

Mr Lovering said he was not sure if it was the same people lighting the fires.

He said the Fire Service had been called promptly to the fires, and on one occasion were called by police patrolling the area. However, there was also a fear that the fires could spread and cause more damage.

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