Some officials say vandalism a common problem

by Adam Townsend
For The Post

Vehicle vandalism in Athens might be a common problem, but some law enforcement officials said there is little they can do to stop it.

"It seems like we're having a little bit more (car vandalism) than we usually do," Athens Police Department Lt. John Withers said. "But it's a common problem in Athens."

According to reports from the APD, there have been 19 instances of vehicle vandalism reported since the beginning of January, including broken antennas, scratched paint, broken rear-view mirrors and slashed tires.

But Ohio University Police Department Lt. Rich Russell said there is little vandalism on campus compared with reports from the city. According to OUPD reports, there have been four reported incidents of vehicle vandalism since the beginning of the year.

Withers also said most crimes occur outside the Uptown area and can be attributed to people returning home after drinking.

"Alcohol does have some play in it," he said.

But suspects in vehicle vandalism cases often are difficult to find because the crimes are random and there usually are no witnesses.

"Occasionally there are calls,"Withers said. "But seldom is that the case."

Russell said finding a timeframe in which the vandalism occurred is key to locating the suspect.

"It depends on if there are any witnesses and how recent the vandalism is (if they will find a suspect)," he said.

One way to find suspects is by looking for trends. For example, Withers said tire slashings usually appear in groups. According to police reports, three cars on North High Street near Athens Middle School had their tires punctured, possibly by an ice pick, in mid-January.

Athens County Prosecuting Attorney C. David Warren said many vehicle vandalism cases come through Athens County’s court system, especially because it handles juvenile offenders.

Warren said vehicle vandalism typically is classified as misdemeanor criminal damage. A vandalism offense is a felony, however, if the damage is more than $500, he said.

The maximum penalty for criminal vandalism is 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. Juvenile offenders usually are placed on probation and ordered to pay restitution.

Russell said because most instances of vehicle vandalism are random, there is little police can do aside from patrolling to prevent them. Residents should take care in choosing the location of their parking spaces and check the condition of their vehicles frequently to avoid vandalism, he said.