A community hall is threatened after falling victim to a flurry of criminal activity recently.

The Chair of Townstal Community Hall is pleading with residents to report any criminal activity they may witness at the hall, to aid with police investigations.

Chair Steve Smith said: “I have been Chairman of the community hall since 2009 and never have I experienced until lately, such a spate of petty criminal damage.”

Twice there have been opportunist thieves walk into the hall and steal a handbag from the kitchen, explained Steve. The bag was found later but the contents of the bag had been removed.

Additionally, very recently an expensive user group sound system was stolen from the premises.

Steve said this was a clear message that “we need to tighten up our in house security”. “However, what we can’t control is site security when the hall is not in use and we do not have the funds to invest in CCTV.”

The running costs for the hall is in “excess of £800 per month" plus additional long term maintenance costs, added Steve. “We can not afford the additional costs of repairs because of vandalism, broken windows and damaged property…this damages our aim to keep our rental rates competitive.”

On each occasion, the police gave the Townstal Community Hall representatives a crime reference number, but have said they cannot move forwards because of the lack of evidence.

There were not culprits caught in the act, nor witnesses willing to make statements, so “I ask the public to support us; if they have seen anything report it” pleaded Steve.

“The community hall was paid for by generous benefactors and a hard working team that raised funds for the hall to be built, it’s a community hall for the community.

“To the vandals that have been responsible for this I just simply ask to have some respect for others and treat the hall with the respect that it deserves.”