Vandals wreck roadside CCTV leaving locals with $300k replacement bill
Two mobile roadside cameras have been targeted and damaged by a group of young men, leaving a local Aussie council with a large replacement bill.
Video of the incident was shared on social media over the weekend and shows about a dozen men, most of them covering their faces , pushing over a camera trailer before swinging on the boom and hitting the camera.
The "night time shenanigans" drew a mixed reaction, with some praising their antics saying: "Not all heroes wear capes."
Others described them as "legends" and said "good job fellas."
However many slammed their acts of vandalism, with one person saying: "Total of 49 braincells combined."
According to Yahoo News, the cameras were not monitoring drivers and are not managed by Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads. The cameras belonged to local government area intended to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime.
"Over the last week two of Council’s mobile CCTV camera trailers have been destroyed by vandals," a spokesperson for the council told the Townsville Bulletin.
"The total replacement cost of both trailers is estimated to be more than $300,000 to ratepayers."
According to council officials, the cameras were damaged in the suburbs of Woodstock and Bohle.
"Townsville City Council has an extensive CCTV camera network of more than 600 fixed cameras and six mobile trailer cameras that can be deployed across the city to reinforce Council’s commitment to community safety," the spokesperson said.
Police are investigating the incidents, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Images: Instagram