Break-in attempt at Bishopmill Pre-School Centre just weeks after vandals' wrecking spree at group's second Elgin site at Jack and Jill Nursery School
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A NURSERY group manager has described a break-in attempt at an Elgin pre-school centre last night as "soul-destroying" – just a month after vandals caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at one of its other sites in the town.
Staff arrived for work at Bishopmill Pre-School Centre, on Morriston Road, this morning to discover someone had attempted to break in using a crowbar.
This comes after vandals went on a wrecking spree and stole items from the group's Jack and Jill Nursery School, on Wardend Place, in mid-April.
Torridon Education Group Nursery runs both Elgin nurseries alongside Lossiemouth's East Beach Nursery and Little Learners.
Manager Lauren Hayward said it was the second time the Bishopmill nursery had been targeted. Police have been informed and emails sent to parents.
Lauren said: "Thankfully they were not successful and nothing was stolen but we wanted to make the public aware to be vigilant, and ensure their doors are locked and they stay safe."
The group's Jack and Jill Nursery School was unable to open on Monday, April 12, after vandals went on the rampage that weekend, leaving the grounds strewn with broken glass and equipment.
The children's tepee tent, Wendy house, mud kitchen and painting wall were left ruined, garden pots were smashed and plants uprooted, sheds and storage units were trashed and other items were stolen. Obscene graffiti was left daubed on the chalk boards.
The staff were touched by a flood of offers of help and donations from the public in the aftermath of the destruction.
However, Lauren was disheartened and concerned after the latest incident at Bishopmill, which employs five staff. She said: "We're very lucky that they didn't get in. The last time they did get in and our doors and windows were replaced to a higher spec.
"The door is damaged and we'll need to replace it but they didn't manage to take anything. Last time this happened other local businesses around Bishopmill had also been targeted."
She added: "It's soul-destroying, to be honest. The staff team here are paranoid about checking every door and window to make sure they're locked and no-one can get in.
"With everything that's going on in the world with coronavirus, why would people feel the need to do this?
"The children were quite confused about whether anyone had stolen their toys or whether they would be allowed to play today. They've had so much going on in their little lives over the past year – they haven't been able to play in their friends' houses or see their grandparents.
"It's the needlessness of it. I don't even know what they hope to achieve if they got in here. We don't have anything that's worth stealing – we have toys and food. Last time a laptop was stolen and food and cutlery.
"I am wasting so much of my time dealing with the aftermath of these things when my time should be spent supporting my staff team and the children. It's already been an incredibly difficult year for everybody and my main focus should be on delivering the best quality of education that we can. And when things like this happen it eats into a lot of staff time around contacting police and organising repairs.
"There is no need for this and I would ask the people who are doing this to just please stop."
