×

Vandals hit Milford sports field, town pool

MILFORD – Thieves who stole from the concession stand at the North River Road sports fields this summer might want to think twice before they try again.

According to Kevin Doyle, president of the Milford Community Athletic Association, someone broke into the stand, after the Fourth of July fireworks and stole a small amount of cash, soda and candy and a few personal items. In the process of entering the stand they damaged the door.

Then on the night of Saturday, Aug. 2, right after a volunteer, Max Dodier, spent most of the day repairing the stand’s overhanging roof, vandals, perhaps the same ones, returned and “tried like hell to get in,” Doyle said.

For the sake of security, Doyle didn’t want to describe what prevented entry, but he said the thieves used something big to try to pry their way in “but we had measures in place to make sure” they couldn’t get in.

And soon there will be added security. After the MCAA emailed all the parents about the incidents, one parent whose line of work is security cameras said he would donate some cameras to the MCAA.

“It’s a light at the end of a pretty dark tunnel,” said Doyle. “It’s truly unfortunate in this small town … that one gentleman is donating his time and effort” to the youth sports fields while someone else is trying to damage it. “It’s mind-boggling.”

Police were called for both incidents and took photos, said Doyle, and assured him they would increase patrols to the fields.

There was also an attempted break-in at the Keyes Memorial Pool last month. Swim coaches found broken screw drivers stuck in door jambs and someone entered the lifeguards’ office, said town Recreation Director Arene Berry, but nothing was taken.

“I think they didn’t get anything and thought it was not worthwhile to go back,” Berry said.

That incident happened on the evening of July 9 or early in the morning of July 10.

Doyle said the vandalism is an unwelcome distraction for the volunteers who make up the MCAA. They are trying hard to improve the fields by upgrading the electrical system, Doyle said, because about half the fields are darker then they should be.

The athletic association leases the fields from the town of Milford for one dollar a year and Doyle said they are hoping Public Service of New Hampshire will give them a break on the cost of bringing extra power out from the road so they can use the lights they have.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 304, or kcleveland@cabinet.com.