HEIDELBERG, VIC. — Two women, aged 20 and 22, have been charged by police after officers caught the pair defacing the Heidelberg RSL this morning.
The pair have both been charged with criminal damage, marking graffiti on property without consent and possessing a graffiti implement to mark graffiti.
Heidelberg police were on patrol when they spotted the duo allegedly spray-painting a wall at the venue at about 1.45am.
As soon as the women spotted the police, they ran from the scene in opposite directions.
The divisional van members, a constable and a senior constable, split up and took off after the pair.
After a short foot chase, the women were arrested.
They have been bailed to appear before the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 19.
Police are also investigating two other incidents where RSL venues have been vandalised sometime overnight.
A spokesperson for the Heidelberg RSL was very upset when VicNews spoke to him “that someone would do such a thing on any day, let alone ANZAC Eve.”
“The RSL was graffitied in red paint with anti-war slogans overnight, but my cleaning crew got straight to cleaning it up, and you can still see the outlines of the red paint,” the Heidelberg RSL spokesperson said.
A Reservoir RSL Sub-Branch spokeswoman confirmed to VicNews: “that overnight the Reservoir RSL was heavily graiffitied [but] was all cleaned up early this morning.”
At this stage, the vandalism attack on the Reservoir and Heidelberg RSL Sub-Branches are believed to be linked.
They include:
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- Damage to Reservoir RSL, where offenders had graffitied and defaced the walls of the venue on the corner of Spring and Cleeland streets. A passerby noticed the vandalism just after midnight and called the police.
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- An incident at the RSL in Fawkner, in Lorne Street, where graffiti was sprayed on the venue sometime between April 24 and 25. It was discovered around 5am today.
Officers will investigate further and examine CCTV to determine whether the incident in Fawkner is also linked.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
