Members of the Collie-Cardiff RSL have been left angered after two historical weapons were stolen in a break-in on Sunday, January 14.
Collie-Cardiff RSL members discovered a smashed sliding glass door at the property on Monday morning and found a rifle and a bayonet had been taken from their display plaques on the walls.
Collie-Cardiff RSL vice president Grahame Old described the break-in as a “low act” and said the items had sentimental value to the club.
Mr Old said the bayonet had been donated to the RSL by former Collie-Cardiff RSL president and Korean War veteran Neil Wood, who is now deceased.
“He wanted us to have it and it was put there in his memory,” Mr Old said.
Mr Old said that the .303 calibre Lee-Enfield rifle was also donated to the RSL by a member of the club.
“The rifle is no good to anyone,” he said. “It’s been decommissioned and it doesn’t work. It’s only good as a collector’s item.”
Mr Old said it appeared the offender must have been familiar with the RSL as the weapons were the only things taken, along with a bottle of bourbon.
He said that the RSL lets out its facilities to be used for functions, but they would have to consider limiting access to members only if it makes the club a target for thieves.
“It’s come to a pretty bad situation when your local RSL is broken into,” Mr Old said.
Collie Police have released CCTV images of the person believed to have committed the break-in, which show a masked male of solid build, wearing a dark hoody, denim shorts and thongs.
Collie Police Senior Sergeant Heath Soutar said the man had entered the RSL at two different times during the day and that he would have been seen hanging around out the front of the RSL at about 10.40am.
Senior Sergeant Soutar said police were ‘keen’ for any information about the crime and that anyone with any information should contact Collie Police on 9734 6333 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
“The RSL is an institution in many towns and it’s sad to see it being targetted,” Senior Sergeant Soutar said.
