Junior sport in Singleton has been interrupted at Alroy Oval after a large section of newly laid turf worth thousands of dollars was ripped from the running track overnight on Sunday and again on Wednesday night.
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Thieves systematically removed approximately 30 square metres sometime on Sunday evening, before returning again on Wednesday night, taking their haul to more than 100 square metres.
Singleton Council's Director Planning and Infrastructure Services labelled the theft as "senseless vandalism", directly impacting children and local sporting clubs.
"Council staff returned to the oval this morning to replace the turf that was stolen earlier this week, only to find that thieves had returned overnight to take a further 70 square metres," he said.
"What is most disappointing is that this malicious damage is to a public space that is most frequently utilised by kids - the turf was laid by Council staff last week ahead of the Little Athletics season which will start at the end of this month, and the Singleton Strikers will hold pre-season trials at the oval tonight.
"Ultimately this will cost thousands of dollars to rectify, and is a blight on Council's hard work to deliver and maintain these facilities that our community deserves.
"I would appeal to the people in our community that if you do see any suspicious behaviour in or around our public spaces, please contact Singleton Police immediately."
