FOLLOWING a spate of burglaries of public buildings in and around Bordon over the festive period, victims have spoken out about the “hidden cost” of the crimes.

Starting a few days before Christmas and continuing up to New Year’s Day, more than 20 break-ins of community buildings were reported from Bordon and Whitehill and Headley, Alton and Grayshott.

In Whitehill, Bordon and Headley 16 break-ins, between the 12 days of December 21 and January 1, were reported as follows:

* Overnight on December 21-22, thieves broke into the Deadwater Valley Trust’s sheds at The Phoenix Theatre, in Bordon, and stole tools including a crowbar.

* On Tuesday, December 22, a back fire-door window was smashed at Mill Chase Leisure Centre, sounding the alarm.

* On Wednesday, December 23, around noon, the Army cadet base at Wolfe House, Bordon, was broken into and uniforms, cash and food stolen.

* On Sunday, December 27, Whitehill village hall was broken into and cupboards were forced open but nothing was taken.

* Between December 27 and December 28, the Bordon Garrison Pre-school and Creche was broken into but nothing was taken.

* Again, between December 27 and 28, the Forest Cafe, at the Forest Centre, was burgled and cash stolen from the till.

* On Monday morning, December 28, the Forest Community Centre was targeted. Nothing was stolen but thousands of pounds of damage was caused by the burglars searching for cash.

* Overnight on Monday, December 28, thieves broke into Bordon fire station and stole a sledgehammer, crowbar and battery-powered saw.

* Between Tuesday, December 29, and New Year’s Eve, Headley sports pavilion was broken into, but nothing was stolen.

* Overnight between Wednesday, December 30, and Thursday, December 31, damage was again caused to the Forest Community Centre by thieves trying to get inside.

* Early in the morning of New Year’s Eve, St Mark’s Church was broken into and cash stolen.

* On New Year’s Eve, Bordon library was broken into and money stolen.

* Again, on New Year’s Eve, Headley village hall was broken into and CCTV damaged.

* At around 3.40am on Friday, January 1, a man carrying a crowbar was seen trying to break into Bordon Stores, in Chalet Hill, but he fled when security lighting activated.

* Over the Christmas holidays thieves tried to break into Weyford Infant School.

* Thieves were successful at breaking into the neighbouring Weyford Junior School, over the holidays, where they stole cash.

The perpetrators were thought to be looking for cash, but in many instances left empty handed or with small amounts of money. However, while breaking into the buildings the burglars caused thousands of pounds of damage and huge inconvenience to staff.

At the Forest Community Centre - where break-ins occurred early on the morning of December 28 and over the night of December 30 and 31 - the burglars broke into offices, damaging desks, filing cabinets and petty cash boxes.

“On the face of it, these intrusions were not too serious, as nothing was taken, but the disruption and cost of repairs may affect all local residents indirectly,” centre manager Lindsay Kelly said.

“We have had to make good the windows that were broken to gain access, as well as interior doors, blinds and furniture that were broken.

“Yes, we have insurance, but our insurers cannot give any undertaking of when work will be carried out because of the volume of claims for numerous other such incidents and mountains of paperwork for recent flood damage. To make matters worse, we have to pay an excess on every claim. Understandably, the insurance companies treat our break-ins as two separate claims, so we have to find the excess fee twice over. We operate on a very tight budget and have little leeway for such unexpected costs. And it does not affect us alone, as the town council and Citizens Advice offices in the same building were also targeted.”

At last Tuesday’s Community Forum, at the Forest Community Centre, police officer Lucy Vine responded to questions about the break-ins. Although she said no one had been arrested, the incidents have seen her and her colleagues in the Longmoor Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team increasing their patrols, both in high-visibility and plain clothing. She also told town residents, who might have “specific concerns”, to contact police on 101 to arrange for an officer to visit for “target hardening” to make buildings harder to break into.

“We’re more than happy to come out and offer crime prevention advice,” she added.

A Hampshire police spokeswoman had previously told the Bordon Herald (January 15) the burglaries were not being treated as connected.

Chairman Lawrence Tristram, of the Whitehill and Bordon Community Association, which manages the Forest Community Centre, added: “The centre is here to provide a service to the community and we are now temporarily hampered in the offerings we can provide because of these senseless acts, which bring no benefit to the perpetrators.

“We are determined that attractions, such as the forthcoming quiz night and film evenings, will go ahead in spite of this setback. There may well be readers out there who suspect who might have been involved. If so, please tell them that the damage and disruption their attacks cause are affecting everybody, and please encourage them to act more responsibly. Even better, notify Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or contact police sergeant 1900 Stuart Tripp (Longmoor team) at the police unit at the Eco-station, in Bordon, on 101, quoting case reference 44150450582.”