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2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:00 AM

Cops want public’s help to stop vandals

By VICKIE MOSS, Herald Public Affairs Editor

The police need your help to stop a recent rash of window vandalism.

Businesses throughout Ottawa continue to be targeted by vandals who police say appear to be driving around at night and using a slingshot to break windows.

Police are increasing patrols and have narrowed a timeframe when these incidents appear to happen most often, Ottawa Police Lt. Adam Weingartner said.

But sometimes it takes the public’s help to solve crimes, Weingartner said.

“There are only so many of us out at any one time,” he said. “The public’s eyes and ears is a force multiplier. Public help is critical in helping us solve this.”

The vandals have hit more than a dozen Ottawa businesses since early this month. At several of the crime scenes, officers recovered three-eighths inch steel hunting shot balls, similar to a large ball bearing, police reported.

Most incidents seem to occur near main traffic routes in the downtown area, on 23rd Street and U.S. 59, and north of the Marais des Cygnes River, police said in a press release Wednesday.

Some businesses have been targeted more than once, including two locations of Payday Advance, at 1532 S. Main St. and 112 N. Main St.; Gerken Rent-All, 120 E. 15th St.; and Kansas Gas Service, 1300 E. Logan St.

Total damage estimates likely amount to thousands of dollars in damage “in a time when people don’t have a lot of money to spare,” Weingartner said.

Police ask anyone with information about this crime to call the Ottawa Police Department at (785) 242-2561 or Franklin County Crime Stoppers at (888) 311-8477. If your information leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a reward.

Callers who provide information through Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.

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Cops want public’s help to stop vandals

By VICKIE MOSS, Herald Public Affairs Editor

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.