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Koblerville Youth Center vandalized
The Koblerville Youth Center, which has been vandalized several times in the past, fell victim again last week, sustaining damage amounting to at least $1,000.
The youth center, formally named the Koblerville Sports Complex Center, has been experiencing recurring incidents of vandalism in the hands of alleged Saipan Southern High School dropouts.
At about 8pm last Friday, one of five intoxicated teenagers allegedly vandalized KYC, according to office clerk and program coordinator Gloria Kaipat.
The damage include eight broken lights, a broken glass panel that measures about 5 feet, a shattered Commonwealth Utilities Corp. water tank lid made of concrete and a broken CUC water pipe that acted as the centers’ backup water supply.
According to Kaipat, things were worse last Christmas when the vandals stole the centers’ Christmas décor and slaughtered a kitten to hang its carcass in front of the entrance with a note saying, “Thank you.”
One of the five suspects in the latest case has been detained by authorities, Kaipat said. She identified him as Deffrey Kios.
Kaipat said Kios was intoxicated when his four friends—also intoxicated—tried to stop him from vandalizing the center. Kaipat said one of five suspects told her that Kios was too drunk to be stopped.
“I hope [private companies] could help us with our security,” said Kaipat.
The only form of security for the center are alarms that are triggered if the doors of the center are opened at night. The alarms only cover the inside of the center.
According to Kaipat, the center receives at most 50 children after school during the week. She said the center has about 600 registered users.
KYC is used by many groups such as the Saipan Awaodori team, which represents the CNMI in traditional Japanese Awaodori dance festivals.
“Since 10 years ago, the Awaodori team has been practicing in the KYC and most of our members are from Kobler,” said PDM Promoters coordinator Sonia Siwa.
Siwa said the center is ideal for practicing because it has an open space in which performers of the Saipan Awaodori Team could practice without disturbing nearby homes.
“I don’t know why they did this. This [center] is for them. I just don’t understand,” said Kaipat.
