Editorial: Difficult to feel for these louts

Camberley Kindergarten's head teacher Heather Simmons surrounded by the evidence of the weekend's vandalism. Photo / Duncan Brown

The vandalism of Camberley Kindergarten beggars belief.

Vandalised equipment and a "strong smell of urine" greeted teachers at the centre when they arrived at work yesterday.

Head teacher Heather Simmons described the damage as "soul-destroying" - which is true of the community's view too.

When teachers arrived at the kindergarten the whare's windows had been smashed, with broken glass strewn over a path and in the bark where children run around during the day.

It's the type of feral behaviour most in the community are at a loss to understand.

It's sad on many levels, not least of which because it breeds mistrust. And, given juveniles are the crime's most common perpetrators, this makes the scenario even more depressing.

Naturally, the main question people always ask is why? Financial gain for crimes like burglary are more explainable when searching for criminal motivation, but cases of vandalism like this remain a mystery.

It's near impossible to find anything logical, because sadly, these people aren't looking for anything logical.

There's a wealth of psychology on the subject. The theories include seeking a degree of control after feeling unobserved - to adrenaline junkies desiring the rush and risk of being caught.

Yet it's as tough to be charitable as it is to empathise.

You can't blame the community for relying on paperback psychology to explain the actions. After all, it's their community and they're seeking answers as they look on aghast at the defiling of a local kindergarten.