The oversize chess set.
A PRIMARY school destroyed by the Black Saturday bushfires has been targeted by heartless thieves.
Embattled Strathewen Primary School, which was rebuilt after being destroyed in the 2009 disaster, has been subjected to a cruel attack after thieves swiped items of its giant chess board donated to the school by a French village.
It is believed the burglars broke into the school between Thursday, March 14 and Monday, March 18 and knocked off the king pieces belonging to the over-sized board game.
The chess board, which has become a trademark in the school’s outdoor courtyard, was donated by the French village of Villers-Bretonneux as part of the reconstruction effort after its town raised $20,000 to create a French-themed courtyard.
The structure also commemorated the village’s rescue by Allied forces in World War I.
Hurstbridge Police Sgt David Jamieson said the school community was “devastated” by the theft, with the well-used chess board a central focus during lunchtime breaks.
“These children have been through a great deal in the past few years and these chess pieces have come to symbolise the rebuilding of their school,” Sgt Jamieson said.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that someone would target a school that has already gone through so much.”
Several power tools were also taken from a shed on the premises during the burglary.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Belle Nolan said investigators described the fibre glass king structures as “hard to miss” - with each stand around 65cm in height – and were appealing for public assistance to help locate them.
Investigators have released an image of the chess set. Anyone with any information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
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