Staff at Griffith’s Pioneer Park Museum have reached breaking point after their third “painful” break in this year.
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There is no question of Pioneer Park Museum’s cultural, historical and social value, however museum business and administration coordinator Jenny O'Donnell-Priest “there is nothing thieves would find valuable.”
“They would either have to be incredibly desperate or incredibly heartless to break into our museum,” she said.
“While the museum provides priceless services, the biggest thing is that everything here is donated. It’s historical.
“Obviously it means nothing to them that this is Griffith’s history.”
“We just want them to know there is really nothing here they would find worth stealing, but the damage they do is almost irreparable as most things here are not simple things to replace.”
She along with curator Bonnie Owen got the call from police late on Tuesday night, and for Ms Owen her thoughts ran to the worst-case scenario.
Although nothing was taken in this break-in, the damage to the building’s window and doors will be difficult to repair, like the damage done from the previous incidents.
“For example, the damage to the door means replacing the whole thing, and you can’t replace these doors because they are old and historical,” Ms O’Donnell-Priest said.
“It’s not just a matter of replacing them – even with windows, we can’t replaces them, so it’s extra painful.”
Ms Owen said it’s heartbreaking to think someone could care so little about their own community, and at the end of the day, the “joke’s on them.”
“It costs a lot of money and takes up a lot of time when we have three staff who work really hard to keep this place going,” Ms Owen said.
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“These interruptions really impact us - as minimal as they may seem to some.”
They say their time, passion and money are being taken away from keeping the museum afloat.
“If they take unlawfully from the community and ruin these kinds of places, it just brings them down and pushes the rest down too.”
“You are doing damage, costing us, and getting nothing from it. Please stop.”
If anyone has any information relating to these incidents, please get in touch with Griffith police station on 6969 4299, or contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
