No special treatment for kiosk vandals

MEMBERS of the public are being urged to keep their eyes peeled following a spate of kiosk raids. In the past week, three of the isolated buildings have been targeted, including Port Soif, Grandes Rocques and Cobo.

Officials from the States Property Department, which owns many of the island's traditional kiosk buildings, are stepping up security following the break-ins.

They have warned that they will come down on vandals like a ton of bricks and hope members of the public will act as their eyes and ears.

'We will always prosecute and we don't accept any sob story,' said Treasury and Resources chief property manager John Silvester.

'The damage that has been done is not great and we have improved security and will continue to do so.'

Last Wednesday thieves smashed their way into Port Soif kiosk and made off with a charity tin after ransacking the building. On the same evening, the one at Grandes Rocques was also targeted.

Graham Garland, who has been running kiosks in the island for 35 years, is saddened that vandals regularly come out to cause damage.

Over the decades he has forked out £7,000 on alarms and extra security to protect his businesses near Castle Cornet and Pleinmont.

He said officials must

come down hard on young offenders.

'It is strange that it is happening at this time of year because during the summer there is more stock left in the buildings,' said Mr Garland.

'This kind of thing has always happened and I suppose now the dark nights have set in, the kids are bored.

'It is totally pointless and this kind of vandalism costs businesses a lot of money.'