Toilet bombers

By Ed Merrison
VANDALS blew the roof off a toilet in broad daylight last week, sparking complaints from scared residents that kids are out of control in Upwey South.
The explosion caused an estimated $1000 of damage to the toilet at Upwey South Recreation Reserve and rocked nearby houses just after noon on Wednesday, 13 September.
Nearby residents said it was the latest in a long line of antisocial incidents that had made them feel unsafe in their own neighbourhood.
Police said a can of insect repellent that was lit and placed in the men’s cubicle appeared to have caused the explosion, which ripped the iron and laserlight sheeting from the roof.
Senior Constable Ian Yardley, a crime scene officer who attended the incident, said someone could have been killed in the explosion.
He said flying nails, screws, iron sheeting and other sources of shrapnel could have had dire consequences or an elderly person walking by might have suffered a heart attack.
“It was potentially life-threatening, no doubt about it,” he said.
Senior Constable Don Taylor said the perpetrators were very lucky to escape serious injury.
“For that sort of damage it would have had to be a very high-power explosive,” he said.
“They probably got the information off the internet to know how to make it.”
Local resident Julian Crooke said he thought a tree had landed on his house, while another young couple living close to the reserve said they thought a bomb had gone off.
“It wasn’t like a shotgun; we thought it was a house exploding,” they said.
The couple, who were frightened to give their names, said the area had begun to feel unsafe for them and their young children.
They said late-night underage drinking, bad language, smashed bottles, fireworks and burnouts had become a regular occurrence at the reserve at weekends and during school holidays.
“We heard the foul language and kids drinking alcohol until two or three in the morning in the last school holidays,” they said.
“We might have thought twice about moving in if we’d known what went on over there.”
The couple said the police needed to keep a closer eye on the reserve as the young people were out of control.
“They need to put in gates or something so you don’t get these idiots driving down here,” the man said.
Senior Sergeant Doug Berglund of Belgrave police said underage drinking and antisocial behaviour had been an ongoing problem in Upwey South.
“They like to congregate in dark areas for their own amusement and everyone else gets the fall out,” he said.
“It can be intimidating to anyone but the important thing is not to give in to it. If it’s reported to the police we’ll respond to it,” he said.
Anyone with information about the explosion or other incidents involving illegal fireworks can call Sen Sgt Berglund on 9754 6677.