Friday, July 27, 2007

Teens Confess To Neighborhood Vandalism Spree

   Two teenagers, Lawrenceburg Police Chief Terry Shay reported Thursday, have confessed to inflicting damages on Lawrence County and City of Lawrenceburg-owned vehicles along with privately-owned vehicles and other property during a vandalism spree in the Richardson Acres Subdivision overnight Monday.

   Residents discovered Tuesday that the vandals had targeted vehicles throughout the community overnight, leaving thousands of dollars worth of damages in their wake.

   A Lawrence County School Bus, Lawrenceburg Police Department squad car, and a semi-truck were among the vehicles targeted. In each instance, the resident reported that derogatory or obscene words had been painted on the vehicles with black, or black and white spray paint.

   A semi-truck belonging to J&B Express had been parked in front of the Deerhollow Drive home of an employee Monday night. The employee discovered Tuesday morning that vandals had spray painted various words on the truck, causing some $2,500 in damages.

   A second Deerhollow Drive resident reported to Lawrenceburg Police Officers that vandals had targeted the 1999 Ford Crown Victoria police car parked there. The resident estimated damages to be $50.00.

   A third resident reported that vandals had painted words across a 1996 Bluebird bus belonging to the Lawrence County School System. Damages in that instance were said to total $500.

   Yet another Deerhollow Drive resident summoned officers to his home where he reported that vandals had spray painted his 1986 Mazda truck, causing approximately $100 in damages.

   According to a press release issued by Shay on Thursday, Investigators with the department’s Criminal Investigation Division, “began an investigation and followed up on leads obtained from concerned citizens in the subdivision. Investigators were lead to homes located at 176 Sundown Drive and 1811 Jean Drive.”

   When investigators questioned the two male teens about the vandalism spree, they report that both, “did confess to spray painting a Lawrence County School Bus, Lawrenceburg Police Department Patrol Car, some mailboxes, and other property in the neighborhood.”

   As a result, Shay reports that juvenile petitions will be sought against each teen through Lawrence County Juvenile court. Both teens will be required to answer multiple charges of vandalism, as well as that of curfew violation.

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