A large concrete nameplate was broken off the stone structure, which residents said had been intact yesterday.

“It’s really a shame that people don’t take pride in their city,” Councillor Conkey said. “We’re really concerned about vandalism, there was also a graffiti attack a couple of days ago at Forest Hill and this all costs ratepayers’ money to fix. I would urge anyone with any knowledge of these incidents to report it to authorities.”

A council spokeswoman said workers had collected the broken nameplate on Friday morning and would store it securely until it could be reattached next week.

Wagga police crime manager Darren Cloake hoped recent arrests would quell a spate of criminal activity in Estella.

“There were some significant arrests made yesterday… now we need to wait and see,” Inspector Cloake said. “There’s been a constant message all year about vigilance and awareness and what the issues are, by keeping up to speed we can build the community’s resilience. But many people are still leaving keys in the car or leaving houses and garages unlocked, they need to take active steps to prevent crime.”

People who find damage to council property should call 1300 292 442. If anyone sees or hears something out of the ordinary, they can report it on the following numbers: