Volunteers let down by raid

Bunbury State Emergency Service volunteers say they are “disheartened” after a group of thieves ram raided their base in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Bunbury police say three offenders wearing balaclavas and gloves rammed a garage door at the Clement Street facility sometime between 2.50 and 3.30am.

The thieves caused extensive damage and stole a large generator.

The group used a stolen ATV in the raid before dumping the vehicle back damaged at the Nuytsia Avenue business where it was originally taken from.

As volunteers worked to clean up the mess yesterday, Bunbury SES local manager Chris Widmer said it was disheartening for a group that helped the community.

“We put in 12,000 volunteer hours to help the community last year and this happens to us,” Mr Widmer said.

“It’s hard to keep the group motivated when stuff like this happens.”

The base has closed-circuit TV cameras with police looking at footage and analysing forensics.