The church in charge of a caravan that serves hot food to homeless and vulnerable people is ‘‘hugely disappointed’’ it has been damaged again.
Dunedin Seventh Day Adventist Church treasurer Lew Bylsma said the group had the van parked by the Stafford St church on Saturday night.
‘‘We came to pick up the van to take it to the Oval about 8.30am [yesterday], only to discover the windows had been smashed and other parts damaged.
‘‘It’s hugely disappointing to see this happen. All we’re doing is offering a service to people who might need it.’’
This is not the first time the caravan has been targeted.
Two years ago, the group was ‘‘crestfallen’’ after someone stole the caravan’s generator.
They managed to raise funds for a new generator, with the help of the community.
‘‘We’ve been talking about installing a camera and better lighting,’’ Mr Bylsma said yesterday.
‘‘But it’s really frustrating. There’s a question of whether insurance will pay out for this damage.’’
Mr Bylsma said they had ‘‘some idea’’ who might be responsible.
‘‘At the end of the day, it’s unpleasant for those who use the caravan.’’
It was not the only church that was attacked over the weekend.
St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Hope St, Dunedin, was also targeted, with two of the church’s more prominent stained-glass windows badly damaged as well as the kitchen window.
St Matthew’s bishop’s warden Peter Masters said the church had contacted the police and cleaned up the damage where it could, but it was now very much a ‘‘waiting game’’.
‘‘It happened over the long weekend, so it might take longer to resolve.’’