Vandals raid RSL

By Elizabeth Lillis
PAKENHAM RSL has been hit by vandals.
Medals and pins were stolen from wall displays and furniture thrown around.
Club senior vicepresident Rob Fox said he was upset by the breakin, in which a wall display of pins was smashed and some of the pins removed.
“The place was a mess things were thrown everywhere,” he said.
Another wall display was also damaged, with six medals taken and the ribbons left discarded on the pool table.
Mr Fox said many of the pins had been collected over many years.
Officers from Pakenham Criminal Investigation Unit said the club ,on the corner of James and Snodgrass streets, was broken into between Australia Day and 10.30pm Monday.
Mr Fox said he received a call on Monday from a neighbour alerting him that the lights were on.
Mr Fox said the intruders had tried to remove a 19th century Boer War gun from above the front door but were foiled because it was firmly bolted to the wall.
A window was broken, but it is unclear whether this was how the intruders gained entry.
Detective Sergeant Phil Jury of Pakenham CUI said there was no sign of forced entry.
Mr Fox said: “All the locks will have to be changed. It will cost about $600.”
He said beer cans were taken from the storeroom and drunk on the premises.
Mr Fox said the incident was unbelievable so close to Australia Day.
Anyone with information regarding the breakin is asked to contact Pakenham CUI on 5945 2500.