The Municipality of Clarington told Durham Post that it is working on increased security at Newcastle Hall, which has been plagued by a series of break-ins that have been reported since at least 2016.
“The municipality and the Newcastle Village Community Hall Board are currently working together to determine appropriate security enhancements. This work is underway,” said a brief statement from the municipality when asked about the break-ins.
According to a timeline provided by Sharon Grant-Young (see below), there seems to be a lag in cooperation.
The latest reported break-in was on July 12, according to Sharon. When she was on the hall board some two years ago, there were other instances of break-ins and vandalism, she said adding that there were continued discussion about security which were never addressed.
The hall is a historic building, and Sharon fears it may be at risk.
An email of June 26, 2023,described an attempted break and entry to the hall on the weekend just after 3:15am on Saturday. An individual was noticed lurking around the building in a questionable behaviour. The hall employee, after closing and securing it, drove around the block and from a distance observed the individual attempting to break in the building through the west side door under the covered arch porch area of the building.
He notified the police immediately, and they were on scene within five minutes. The individual has been arrested for attempted break and enter, the email said.
It said the writer further discussed the possibility of capital budget request for security cameras and expediting this possibly sooner.
The Break-ins Timeline – as provided by Sharon Grant-Young
January 19, 2016: Update from chair given by Cathy Abraham – reported a break in on Xmas Eve. Entry was through west doors, entered Lions Room, Train Room and Bowling Alley. Locks and doors were broken but nothing was taken. Police were fairly sure whoever it was had intimate knowledge of building possibly looking for alcohol. Operations Dept. will be fixing damaged doors and locks.
September 22, 2020: Chair B. Carmichael reported we have had some vandalism around the hall lately. A planter was thrown at kitchen window, cleaner put into fountain, young people hanging out at west entrance. We have contacted municipality with thoughts of a camera.
October 20, 2020: Security – Chair is meeting with municipality on Oct 23 to discuss camera in west alcove.
November 17, 2020: Security camera – Chair met with municipality to discuss possibility of installing camera’s. We are awaiting feedback.
January 19, 2021: Security System – Chair B. Carmichael reported no further information has been received.
February 16, 2021: Security System update: no additional information from municipality.
March 16, 2021: Security System update – Municipal Supervisor of Buildings and Property, Community Services Dept. has forwarded a Privacy Impact Assessment for proposed surveillance system.
April 20, 2021: Security System update – nothing to report at this time.
May 18, 2021: Security System update – tabled
June 15, 2021: Security System update – tabled
September 28, 2021: Security System update – tabled
November 16, 2021: Security System – email was sent to municipality on Oct 12 with questions to date no response.
December 21, 2021: Security System – no response to email sent to Supervisor Buildings & Property
February 15, 2022: Security System – Supervisor Building and Property has responded to questions that arose with original report. Board is in favor of moving forward on video surveillance. This will be referred back to the municipality to proceed.
November 15, 2022: Camera – security – As we have had vandalism in parkette we will be requesting security camera from municipality. B. Carmichael will follow up with town on this as we have already received information from them in the past. Community Hall Lighting scheduled for Nov 18 2022 at 5:30 pm – reported that some of the lights were vandalized earlier this week.
January 17, 2023: Security Cameras – tabled to February meeting
February 21, 2023: Enquired about security camera as we have some vandalism recently. This in item list to be discussed at monthly meeting.
June 20, 2023: Video Surveillance – C. Yaki Video Surveillance as recommended by municipal report is a onetime cost of $2800. Motion that Video Surveillance is added to the Capital Budget requests.
June 24, 2023: Another break-in.
July 12, 2025: Another break-in.