Grimbergen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Veldkanteva football club in Grimbergen was broken into again. Thieves caused damage and stole some items but found no money. Chairman Jean De Breucker urges better security to prevent future break-ins.
This morning, January 20, 2025, Jean De Breucker, the chairman of the football club, went to the canteen and found a big mess. He was shocked to see that someone had broken in. Doors were kicked in, and windows were smashed.
The damage was serious, but they did not know when it happened. Since the club found out about the break-in today, people think it could have happened on Saturday evening or Sunday night. It looked like someone did this on purpose, but not much was taken from the canteen, even with all the damage.
Why do thieves target Veldkanteva football club in Grimbergen again?
The intruders broke into the cash register, hoping to steal money, but it was empty. They took a few football bags, some footballs, a couple of crates of beer, and 300 candy bags. The chairman thought it was a strange mix of items to take.
Management mentioned that since the canteen did not contain any valuables, the theft seemed pointless. The thieves left with only a small amount of things, but they caused a lot of damage. The club has to handle the repairs.
The chairman said:
They broke open the cash register, but there is no money in it. They also brought 2 football bags, some footballs, a few crates of beer and 300 candy bags.
After the break-in, police came to the Veldkanteva football club in Grimbergen, Belgium to check what happened. The chairman is upset about the ongoing vandalism. He said the first step is to clean up and start fixing things. The door that was kicked in is damaged and needs to be replaced.
The club is also still dealing with a broken window from a previous break-in. This old damage makes the club feel unsafe. He mentioned that it shows that the security problems are not being fully fixed. The club needs better protection to avoid these issues in the future.
Such a shame every time because there is no money to be found here. But we have to move on. Nothing to be done.
Chairman Jean De Breucker
According to the Chairman, they are trying to fix the cash register that was broken during the last break-in. This project is a waste because no money was found inside. He is frustrated with the repeated thefts and the damage left behind each time. Even with these problems, the club must continue to move forward. They must repair what is broken because there isn’t much else they can do about the ongoing security issues.
He said,
It’s such a waste every time because there’s no money to be found here.
How can the Veldkanteva club in Grimbergen improve security?
Two years ago, the club had three break-ins in a row. The chairman said the club’s location makes it hard to keep safe. The area behind the canteen is dark, making it easy for intruders to come and go without being seen. The chairman believes that the lack of light makes it hard for anyone to notice anything strange, leading to more break-ins.
The chairman mentioned that the repeated break-ins show that the Veldkanteva football club is vulnerable. Thieves take advantage of the quiet location, not enough security measures, and the darkness, making it easy for them to strike. The chairman is frustrated because there are no good ways to stop the break-ins. The club has to deal with the security issues on its own.