Offices of Wandering Shire ransacked after front door smashed

Three people have broken into the Shire of Wandering offices, stealing a laptop and leaving a trail of mess and parcels.

Just before 9pm on Tuesday, October 26, the trio smashed through the front door of the shire offices and ransacked the premises.

Shire chief executive Belinda Knight said the men were wearing masks and gloves and it it appeared they were seeking money.

“I walked through the offices — there was trash everywhere. It looked like a willy-willy had been through the place. There was paper and stuff strewn all over the place,” she said.

“They tried to break into the strong room and they couldn’t get into that.

“They got away with a small laptop computer but left all of the others on the desk, which was odd.”

The perpetrators also took parcels that were being held at the shire offices.

“We personally don’t know (who it was),” Ms Knight said. “Pingelly police have attended. We have very clear CCTV footage and they’ll be on the lookout for whoever did it.

“This is the second time we’ve been broken into in the last 12 months. The first time, they didn’t actually manage to get in but they did quite a bit of damage outside. They took all the parcels, all our Australia Post parcels, which they seem to have distributed along the side of the road between Pumphreys Bridge and North Bannister-Wandering Road.”

A Pingelly police spokesperson said the burglary could be related to another break-in at Popanyinning General Store on the same night.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestopperswa.com.au.